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REPORTS 


Committee 


OF  THE 


OF  Investigation 


SENT  IN  1873  BY  THE  MEXICAN  GOVERNMENT  TO 
THE  FRONTIER  OF  TEXAS. 


TRANSLATED  FROM  THE  OFFICIAL  EDITION  MADE  IN  MEXICO. 


NEAV  YORK: 

BAKER  & GOD  AY  IN,  PRINTERS, 
No.  25  Park  Row. 

1875. 


rex 


PREFACE  TO  THE  TRANSLATION. ' 


This  book  is  a translation,  ordered  by  the  Mexican  Gov- 
ernment, of  the  reports  presented  by  the  commission  which  it 
sent  to  the  frontier,  to  investigate  the  depredations  committed 
on  both  sides  of  the  Rio  Grande.  The  President  of  the  United 
States,  in  compliance  with  a recommendation  of  Congress, 
had  previously  dispatched  an  investigating  commission  to  the 
Texan  border,  to  inquire  in  to  the  robberies  complained  of 
in  Texas,  and  alleged  to  have  been  perpetrated  by  Indians 
and  citizens  of  Mexico.  That  was  the  origin  of  the  ap- 
pointment in  the  neighboring  country  of  a similar  commis- 
sion. The  Mexican  Government  wanted  to  have  the  mat- 
ter investigated  on  its  side,  and  as  impartially  as  possible, 
for  it  felt  the  necessity  of  being  prepared  against  the  plots  of 
some  malicious  claimants  and  other  ambitious  private  parties 
in  this  country. 

The  result  of  the  Mexican  investigation  is  shown  in  these 
reports,  now  published  in  English  for  the  information  of  the 
American  people.  It  proves  that  the  complaints  of  the  Texans 
are  groundless,  inasmuch  as  the  cattle  stealing  done  among 
them  is  not  the  work  of  any  residents  in  the  adjoining  country, 
but  of  Indians  belonging  to  the  United  States,  and  their  own 
outlaws  disguised  as  Indians.  If  either  of  the  two  nations 
can  complain  of  Indian  and  other  depredations — as  it  is 
now  demonstrated — it  is  Mexico,  some  of  whose  entire 
States  have  been  ruined  by  Indians  and  banditti  from  the 
United  States,  who  still  depredate  there  to  a certain  extent, 
robbing  horses  and  perpetrating  other  outrages.  The  origin 
of  those  evils  on  both  banks  of  the  river,  it  is  clearly  proved, 
consists,  in  a great  measure,  in  the  encouragement  given  to 
the  Indians  for  plunder  by  the  traffic  carried  on  with  them 
ever  since  1835,  tolerated  and  consented  by  the  American  an- 


IV 


PREFACE. 


thoi’ities,  and  in  wliicli  the  Indians  exchange  their  booty,  most 
frequently  from  IVIexico. 

Besides  the  lack  of  foundation  in  the  Texan  claims,  the 
absurdity  of  their  amount,  in  consequence  of  an  enormous 
exaggeration,  is  evidenced  by  the  official  data  showing  the 
value  of  all  the  property  in  the  counties  referred  to  by  the 
claimants.  They  complain  of  having  lost  much  more  than 
they  ever  could  possess,  while  they  still  certainly  retain  a good 
deal. 

The  work  of  the  Mexican  border  Commission  has  been 
wonderfully  laborious.  They  visited  all  the  towns  and  many 
ranchos  not  remote  from  the  Rio  Grande,  all  along  the  river 
on  its  right  bank,  as  far  up  as  La  Resurreccion,  a distance  of 
about  450  miles.  Wherever  public  archives  could  be  found, 
they  ransacked  them  most  industifiously,  with  a view  to  lind 
some  traces  of  the  facts  under  investigation.  They  examined 
nearlj"  300  witnesses,  whose  testimonies,  with  otlier  document- 
ary evidence  annexed  to  the  reports,  covei-  17,688  pages  in 
manuscript. 

The  official  edition,  from  which  this  translation  is  taken, 
has  an  appendix  containing  a tabular  statement  of  the  names, 
domiciles,  &c.,  of  278  witnesses  examined  on  the  principal 
questions,  besides  other  tabular  and  detailed  notices  of  Indian 
incursions  into  the  Mexican  frontier  States  (covering  42  folio 
pages),  and  some  few  interesting  data  about  the  removal  of  the 
Kickapoos  from  Mexico,  and  Indian  hostilities  in  that  country. 
One  of  the  documents  inserted  in  that  appendix  is  a message 
sent  to  the  Legislature  of  Texas,  by  Gov.  E.  J.  Davis,  dated 
Austin,  April  19, 1873,  bitterly  lamenting  the  frightful  demor- 
alization of  the  State,  since,  according  to  the  Governor’s  cal- 
culations, more  murders  had  been  committed  in  it,  during 
three  months,  with  a population  of  little  more  than  800,000, 
than  in  the  State  of  New  York  (excluding  the  city  of  New 
York),  with  more  than  thi’ee  million  souls.  The  Governor 
also  alludes  to  the  culpable  su])pression  of  the  cattle  registry  in 
one  county— a fact,  we  may  say,  which  tends  to  prove  that  cat- 
tle stealing  in  that  section  had  its  protectors  there,  and  not  in 
Mexico. 


PREFACE. 


V 


For  the  convenience  of  the  reader  who  may  want  to  be 
informed  about  the  foundation  of  the  Texan  complaints  against 
Mexican  Indians  and  robbers,  rather  than  other  matters  in- 
teresting the  Mexican  frontier,  we  beg  leave  to  refer  him  to 
the  first  report  in  its  whole,  up  to  page  223,  and  more  particu- 
larly to  the  second  one,  under  the  headings,  “ Indian  Depre- 
dations in  Texas”  (page  341),  and  ‘‘Robbery  of  Cattle  and 
Horses  ” (page  383).  As  of  general  interest,  we  also  would 
especially  recommend  the  portion  entitled  “ Indian  Policy  of 
the  United  States,”  commencing  at  page  427. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 
Princeton  Theological  Seminary  Library 


https://archive.org/details/reportsofcommittOOmexi 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


PAGE 


First  Report,  dated  Monterey,  May  15,  1873,  on  the  depredations  and 
offenses  committed  on  the  Texas  frontier,  without  particular  ref- 
erence to  Indians,  and  with  statistical  data  to  prove  the  absurd- 
ity of  the  claims  proposed  by  Texans 8 

Communications  to  the  Seeretaries  of  Foreign  Relations,  of  War  and 

of  “Fomento,”  in  presenting  the  Seeond  Report 327 

Second  Report,  dated  Monterey,  December  7,  1873,  commencing 240 

and  containing: 

Historical  sketch  of  Indian  wars  on  the  frontier  before  1848,  with  a 
notice  of  the  immoral  trade  inaugurated  with  Indians  hy  American 

offieers 244 

Indian  hostilities  in  Tamaulipas  since  1848 253 

Depredations  of  savages  in  Nuevo  Leon 281 

Indian  depredations  in  Coahuila 318 

Indian  depredations  in  Zacatecas  and  San  Luis  Potosi 337 


Indian  depredations  in  Texas. — A detailed  review  of  them,  to  prove  that 
they  have  the  same  origin  as  those  tchich  ruined  the  Mexican  frontier 
States,  i.  e.,  the  criminal  action  of  American  citizens,  with  the  con- 
nivance, or  complicity,  of  American  officials.  They  have  not  heen 
committed  hy  men  from  Mexico,  but  by  Indians  of  the  U.  8.  and  Texan 


outlaws  disguised  as  Indians 341 

Robbery  of  cattle  and  horses. — The  former  itrincipally  against  Texas, 
the  latte)-  against  Mexico.  The  sufferings  of  Texas  in  this  connec- 
tion are  chiefl/y  owing  to  the  immorality  of  its  population 383 


A brief  sketch  of  the  Indian  tribes  which  have  lived  in  Mexico. — To 
some  of  them,  already  extinct,  depredations  in  the  United  States  have 
been  attributed — Seminoles,  KicTcapoos  and  Muscogees,  residing  in 
Mexico.  They  are  not  the  authors  of  the  robberies  and  outrages  de- 
nounced fry  the  American  Commission.  The  originators  of  such  accu- 
sations are  some  criminal  speculators.  The  recent  transfer  of  those 
Indians  to  the  territory  of  the  United  States 404 


vni  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

Au  account  of  the  Lipans 417 

Invasion  of  Mexican  territory  by  forces  or  citizens  of  the  Uniterl  States.  422 
The  Indian  policy  of  the  United  States. — A condemnation  of  the  one 
followed  Iry  former  administrations,  as  most  detrimental  to  Mexico. 

A just  encomium  of  the  wise  Indian  policy  inaugurated,  by  President 
Grant.  Dificulties  and  contradictions  opposed  to  it  by  some  agents 

and  the  American  frontiersmen 427 

Conclusion,  with  a brief  remme  of  the  pi'incipal  questions  treated,  and 

suggestions  to  remedy  the  evils  on  the  Mexican  frontier 438 


INVESTIGATING  COJIMISSION 


OF  THE 

NORTHERN  FRONTIER. 


The  Commission  appointed  by  the  Executive  of  the  Union, 
in  conformity  witli  the  law  of  30th  September,  1872,  was  in- 
stalled in  Monterey  on  the  14th  November  of  the  same  year, 
and,  agreeably  to  the  instructions  received,  adjourned  to  Mata- 
moros  to  commence  their  work. 

They  then  traveled  along  the  line  of  the  Bravo  to  Mier, 
and  are  satisfied  that  the  data  thus  acquired  are  sufficient  to 
give  an  idea  of  the  vexed  questions  of  the  frontier,  with  excep- 
tion of  that  of  the  Indian  depredations,  which  will  require 
careful  study  and  examination,  after  which  the  Commission 
will  make  a special  report. 

Desirous  of  hearing  the  complaints  of  the  sufferers  of  in- 
juries received,  the  Commission  issued  copies  of  the  regula- 
tions of  the  21st  November,  and  invited  the  citizens  of 
Mexico  and  Texas  to  present  their  claims  before  them.  They 
then  set  about  to  collect  all  the  facts  relative  to  cattle  steal- 
ing on  the  United  States  frontier,  whether  favorable  or  ad- 
verse to  the  Mexican  Republic.  Besides  this,  and  in  com- 
pliance with  the  law  of  Congress,  their  duties  extended  to  the 
hearing  and  investigation  of  the  complaints  of  American  citi- 
zens, and  to  this  end  the  above-named  regulations  were  issued, 
as  follows : 


4 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


Investigating  Commission  of  the  Northern  Frontier. 

^ ^ ^ 

“ The  object  of  the  Commission  being  to  form  a clear  judg- 
ment of  the  question,  they  have  resolved  to  be  guided  only  by 
the  strictest  impartiality  and  justice,  and.  hence  invite  all  per- 
sons residing  in  territory  pertaining  to  the  United  States,  or 
who  own  property  there,  and  consider  that  they  have  the  right 
to  complain  of  robberies  or  depredations  committed  by  bauds 
organized  in  Mexican  territory,  to  present  their  claims  before 
the  Commission,  with  all  the  necessary  proofs.” 

The  Commission  soon  became  convinced  that  the  provisions 
of  the  regulations  were  wholly  inadequate  to  the  requirements 
of  the  case.  They  desired  particularly  to  hear  the  complaints 
of  the  citizens  of  Texas,  but  none  of  those  who  appeared  up  to 
the  present  had  complained  of  damages  done  to  their  cattle, 
attributing  their  injuries  to  the  criminal  acts  of  persons  resid- 
ing in  Mexico. 

Apart  from  this,  a conscientious  investigation  necessitated 
vast  study.  The  questions  on  the  frontier  are  extremely  com- 
plex, and  it  would  be  impossible  to  examine  all  the  details 
under  their  various  aspects,  if  the  means  of  study  and  ii>- 
vestigation  were  solely  limited  to  the  information  obtained 
in  the  form  of  complaints,  from  persons  prompted  by  self- 
interest. 

These  diverse  considerations  gave  rise  to  the  necessity  of 
compiling  official  expedientesP  In  these  documents  are  col- 
lected all  the  material  for  the  history  of  the  relations  between 
the  frontiers  since  1848,  and  as  a natural  consequence,  the  facts 
are  free  from  any  personalities  which  would  have  resulted  from 
a decision  of  private  claims,  had  these  been  the  only  means  by 
which  the  Commission  could  arrive  at  a clear  understanding  of 
the  case. 

In  carrying  out  this  system,  the  Commission  was  compelled 
to  study,  investigate  and  classify  the  result  of  their  labors. 

They  accepted  with  pleasure  this  position,  which  enabled 
them  to  act  with  entire  independence,  and  to  assume  the  whole 
responsibility  of  their  proceedings.  The  Commission  does  not 
hesitate  to  say  that  they  accept  this  responsibility,  because  they 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


5 


are  satisfied  that  they  have  made  every  efibrt  to  sift  the  truth, 
whether  favorable  or  otherwise  to  the  Mexican  Republic. 

In  taking  upon  themselves  this  immense  responsibility,  in 
which  was'at  stake  not  only  the  credit  of  Mexico,  but  the  honor 
of  the  members  of  the  Commission,  a system  of  minute  investi- 
gations became  necessary,  and  the  Commissioners  did  not  shrink 
from  using  every  measure,  in  collecting  testimony,  to  carefully 
weigh  the  qualifications  of  the  witnesses,  their  reputation  for 
veracity,  and  the  value  of  their  assertions  and  claims. 

Independent  of  these  reasons,  there  was  one  no  less  power- 
ful motive  why  the  Commissioners  should  proceed  with  the  ut- 
:nost  circumspection.  In  the  course  of  their  investigations, 
accusations  were  made  against  various  persons,  on  either  side 
of  the  river,  of  complicity  in  the  I’obberies  of  cattle  and  horses. 
The  Commissioners  had  to  judge  of  these  accusations,  and  their 
judgment  was  equal  to  a sentence;  and  although  the  sentence 
could  inflict  no  physical  punishment,  it  at  least  would  cause 
moral  suffering  to  those  who  were  proved  guilty  of  connivance 
in  the  robberies,  or  at  least  protection  of  the  cattle  thieves. 
This  sentence  had  to  be  passed  without  giving  the  accused  the 
opportunity  of  defending  themselves,  a fact  which  was  not  a 
little  I'epugnant  to  the  consciences  of  the  Commissioners.  In 
the  impossibility  of  calling  upon  the  accused  to  defend  them- 
selves, the  Commissioners  constituted  themselves  into  counsel 
for  the  defendants,  not  for  the  purpose  of  exculpating  them, 
should  they  be  guilty,  but  for  the  better  opportunity  of  forming 
an  opinion  of  the  true  merits  of  the  case.  To  this  end,  the 
Commission  instituted  a method  of  private  investigation,  and 
when  at  all  doubtful  of  the  testimony  procured,  and  of  the  good 
faith  of  the  witnesses,  they  proceeded  to  collect  testimony  for 
the  defendants. 

The  Commissioners  persisted  in  this  system,  when,  by 
observation,  they  became  convinced  that  pecuniary  interests 
formed  no  obstacle  to  this  mode  of  procedure,  whilst,  on 
the  contrary,  it  was  not  impossible  that  erroneous  testimony 
might  be  given  under  false  impressions,  through  personal 
enmity  or  other  causes  calculated  to  adulterate  the  truth, 
and  of  this  they  soon  had  ample  proof.  Hardly  had  they 


6 


' REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


commenced  their  work,  when  Mr.  T.  H.  Hines,  citizen  of 
the  county  of  Cameron,  Texas,  and  Justice  of  the  Peace 
in  the  3d  District,  was  accused  before  the  Commission  of 
complicity  in  the  robberies  of  horses  in  Mexico  and  of 
cattle  in  Texas.  The  details  of  the  accusation  gave  to  the 
case  the  impress  of  e.xceptional  gravity,  and  included  acts  of 
public  notoriety  which  assumed  the  character  of  proofs,  and 
gave  to  the  accusation  a certain  air. of  truthfulness.  From  the 
jDi-ivate  investigations  instituted  by  the  Commissioners,  they 
discovered  that  Mr.  Hines  was  a man  of  respectability,  and 
bore  an  excellent  character ; that  the  witness  was  a man  of  no 
character,  and  that  the  testimony  had  been  given  from  a feeling 
of  personal  enmity,  with  malicious  intent  to  injure  Mr.  Hines. 

Mr.  Hines  was  not  the  only  person  who,  in  the  opinion  of 
the  Commissioners,  had  been  falsely  accused.  The  same  witness 
at  that  very  time  accused  several  other  persons.  He  charged 
Jose  Turner  with  receiving  horses  stolen  in  Mexico  and  col- 
lecting droves  on  Mr.  Hines’  account ; Juan  Thompson,  admin- 
istrator of  the  estate  “ Santa  Anita,”  Texas,  with  conniving 
with  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  Cuevas,  from  whom  he  received 
horses  stolen  in  Mexico,  giving  in  exchange  therefor  cattle  stolen 
in  Texas  ; and  J.  Siebert,  city  marshal  in  Brownsville,  with  com- 
plicity in  the  cattle  robberies  ; nor  did  this  witness  limit  him- 
self to  accusations  against  these  persons,  but  brought  similar 
charges  against  various  others. 

As  regards  Jose  Turner,  his  good  character  for  respectabil- 
ity is  well  established,  and  as  for  the  others,  the  Commissioners 
refuse  to  accept  the  testimony,  if  for  no  other  than  for  the  cul- 
pable peijury  of  the  witness. 

Besides  this  man,  there  was  another  who  also  made  himself 
notorious  for  his  falsehoods ; and  even  had  these  not  become 
patent,  as  they  did,  the  fact  that,  in  refutation  of  these  charges, 
his  own  securities,  persons  of  acknowledged  probity,  declared 
the  witness  to  be  a person  addicted  to  falsehood  and  of  bad  re- 
pute, would  have  been  quite  sufficient  to  have  caused  the  Com- 
mission to  decline  his  testimony. 

These  cases  have  been  mentioned,  not  as  the  only  ones  of 
this  nature,  but  as  a sample  of  the  most  notorious,  and  to  illus- 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION.  7 

trate  the  system  of  investigation  pursued  in  the  collection  of 
proofs. 

Wherever  false  charges  were  suspected  or  the  slightest  false- 
hood noted,  the  Commissioners  used  due  diligence  to  procure 
proofs  of  the  same,  so  that  side  by  side  stands  the  accusation 
and  the  evidence  for  the  defense;  and  in  every  ease  where 
falsity  has  been  proved,  the  Commissioner’s  have  not  hesitated 
to  admit  the  calumnious  nature  of  the  first. 

Added  to  these  considerations,  which  arose  from  a sincere 
desire  to  learn  the  truth,  and  compelled  the  Commission  to 
move  leisurely  in  their  work,  was  another,  which  strengthened 
their  determination  to  persevere  in  this  system.  They  were 
impressed  with  the  belief  that  there  were  strong  temptations  on 
the  part  of  many  to  present  before  the  Commission  false  testi- 
mony, and  a tendency  to  impose  upon  their  good  faith,  hoping 
that  the  Commissioners  would  rest  satisfied  with  the  evidence 
given,  and  close  their  work,  leaving  the  accused  under  suspicion, 
and  their  own  proceedings  open  to  censure  or  enveloped  in 
mystery.  But  under  the  system  of  inv^estigation  pursued  by 
the  Commission,  it  was  impossible  to  inaugurate  any  such  plan, 
without  laying  themselves  open  to  discovery. 

Notwithstanding  all  their  diligence,  the  Commission  was 
not  satisfied  that  the  testimony  had  been  sufficiently  filtered. 
The  result  of  the  investigations  showed  the  necessity  of  the 
presence  of  many  of  those  condemned  by  the  tribunals,  or  ac- 
cused by  public  opinion,  of  complicity  with  the  cattle  thieves, 
on  both  frontiers,  since  1818,  as  being  the  only  witnesses  who 
could  give  evidence  in  luany  important  details. 

Practical  observation  convinced  the  Coiumissioners  of  the 
unscrupulousness  of  the  witnesses,  who,  probably,  in  declaring 
against  others,  were  doing  the  utmost  to  conceal  their  own 
complicity.  In  accepting  this  evidence,  therefore,  it  was  nec- 
essary to  do  so  with  a certain  reserve,  and  to  this  end,  it  was 
determined  to  classify  the  witnesses  coming  under  this  head. 

Another  class  of  witnesses  were  totally  unknown  to  the 
Commission  ; they  were  ignorant  of  their  antecedents,  and 
doubtful  of  the  degree  of  credibility  with  which  they  might  be 
accredited.  In  regard  to  such,  it  was  necessary  to  require 


8 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


securities  among  persons  known  to  the  Commissioners,  and 
many  men  of  noted  respectability  appeared  before  the  Commis- 
sion and  gave  testimony  as  to  the  cliaraeter  of  the  witnesses, 
and  as  to  the  amount  of  credit  which  their  evidence  deserved. 

The  witnesses  who  testified  before  the  Commission  may  be 
divided  into  the  five  following  classes  : 

1st.  Persons  of  known  respectability,  whose  depositions  re- 
quired no  security. 

2d.  Persons  of  veracity,  but  Avho  being  unknown  to  the 
Commission,  were  required  to  give  security. 

3d.  Persons  unknown,  whose  declarations  could  not  be  cer- 
tified to,  not  having  securities. 

4th.  Persons  of  bad  faith,  condemned  by  the  tribunals  or 
accused  by  public  opinion  as  accomplices  of  the 
cattle  thieves. 

5th.  Persons  who  were  totally  undeserving  of  credit. 

The  number  of  witnesses  coming  under  the  four  last  classes 
is  comparatively  few. 

Under  the  first  four  are  collected  all  the  proofs  of  testi- 
monial evidence. 

Citizens  who  have  been  in  official  positions  have  made  de- 
position before  the  Commission,  the  municipal  and  county 
police,  proprietors,  merchants,  clerks,  laborers,  persons  accused 
of  complicity  in  the  cattle  robberies,  criminals  condemned  by 
the  tribunals.  The  testimonial  proofs  laid  before  the  Com- 
mission, are  quite  sufficient  to  form  a judgment  on  the  case ; 
nevertheless,  the  Commission,  notwithstanding  all  the  careful 
diligence  employed  in  collecting  this  evidence,  determined  to 
give  to  this  class  of  proofs  a secondary  importance,  and  were 
satisfied  with  this  resolve  at  every  step,  and  determined  to  ad- 
here to  it. 

There  were  various  reasons  for  coming  to  such  a determina- 
tion : testimonial  evidence  is  extremely  dangerous  when  not 
submitted  to  debate  and  contradiction,  and  for  this  reason,  that 
proofs  received  in  this  manner,  without  official  citation  and 
with  no  audience,  are  lacking  in  importance. 

Ignorance  on  the  part  of  the  witnesses  gives  a well  founded 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


9 


motive  for  objecting  to  their  evidence  ; and  in  many  instances 
this  ignorance  reached  snch  a point,  that  tlie  witnesses  had  not 
even  tlie  faintest  idea  of  time,  and  altliough  honest  in  their  in- 
tentions, and  truthful  in  the  main,  tliey  fell  into  errors  which, 
at  least,  cast  a doubt  upon  their  testimony.  Lastly,  although 
the  witnesses  might  not  be  ignorant,  nevertheless,  their  testi- 
mony was  weakened,  from  the  fact  that  the  occurrences,  through 
lapse  of  time,  or  probably  because  they  made  no  deep  impres- 
sion on  their  minds  at  the  time  they  took  place,  afterward 
caused  the  witness  to  fall  into  error.  Under  these  circum- 
stances, the  Commission  is  of  opinion  that  testimonial  evidence 
in  this  class  of  investigation  is  of  itself  incomplete  and  unrelia- 
ble, and  cannot  be  employed  as  a basis  on  which  to  pass  judg- 
ment. 

Acting  from  this  standpoint,  the  Commission,  although  not 
discarding  testimonial  evidence,  used  every  effort  to  secure 
proofs  from  the  strongest  circumstantial  evidence.  Legislation, 
administrative  measures,  the  judicial  records,  the  civil  and 
criminal  statistics  and  various  publications  were  to  the  Commis- 
sion mines  rich  in  evidence  from  w’hich  invaluable  deductions 
might  be  made,  not  only  in  determining  the  question  from  its 
general  aspect,  but  also  in  furnishing  the  most  important  details. 
The  Legislature,  by  adopting  measures  to  correct  an  evil,  re- 
vealed clearly  and  minutely  the  nature  and  extent  of  the  evil. 
The  laws  enacted  for  this  purpose  point  out,  during  a stated 
period,  the  various  phases  of  the  evil,  its  increase,  its  nature 
and  the  space  of  time  it  covered ; whilst  the  administrative  acts 
in  the  application  of  the  laws,  as  a measure  of  restraint  and  cor- 
rection, illustrated  the  evil  in  detail.  The  judicial  records  in- 
dicated the  criminals  and  delinquents,  from  whence  they  had 
come,  and  the  manner  in  which  the  crime  had  been  committed. 
The  statistics,  civil  and  criminal,  explained,  in  figures,  the 
amount  of  eriminalit}",  and  by  a distinct  system  of  legislation, 
determined  the  extent  of  the  ills  committed  ; and  the  above 
named  publications,  especially  the  newspapers,  served  as  a 
basis  for  procuring  testimony,  because  in  their  columns  were 
found  documents  which  could  not  be  otherwise  procured,  and 


10 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


as  giving  in  detail  the  circumstances  at  the  times  of  tlieir  occur- 
rence, and  expressing  the  popular  feeling  on  the  subject. 

These  diverse  elements  have  been  all  applied  in  various 
ways  by  the  Commissioners  in  the  course  of  their  labors. 

The  archives  of  the  towns  which  they  visited  in  their  inves- 
tigation tour  furnished  the  best  means  of  information.  The 
indisputable  figures  of  the  statistics j the  date  of  authentic 
official  documents;  the  nature  and  result  of  criminal  cases  ; the 
fact  that  all  the  circumstantial  evidence  collected  from  these 
archives  was,  when  these  documents  were  filed,  never  intended 
to  be  used  as  evidence  in  investigations  of  this  nature,  nor  even 
for  publicity,  are,  of  themselves  overwhelming  proofs  of  the 
value  of  the  evidence  thus  obtained,  and  of  its  unquestionable 
strength  and  validity.  For  this  reason  the  Commission  gave 
to  circumstantial  evidence  thus  procured  the  first  consideration, 
and,  in  spite  of  the  obstacles,  in  the  way  of  political  disturb- 
ances, and  the  destruction  of  property  during  these  affrays,  the 
Commissioners  were  enabled  to  obtain  an  amount  of  informa- 
tion which  enabled  them  to  form  judgments  principally  based 
on  this  class  of  proofs. 

The  employees  in  whose  charge  the  archives  are  placed  at 
first  authorized  the  copying  of  the  documents ; but,  by  de- 
grees, the  Commissioners  were  given  to  understand  that  the 
residents  of  Texas,  whilst  using  in  their  defense  copies  of  the 
municipal  archives  of  the  city  of  Matamoros,  added  that  por- 
tions of  the  originals  had  been  suppressed  in  the  copy. 

Although  this  accusation  was  wholly  without  foundation, 
the  Commission  was  compelled  to  see  that  the  proofs  of  this 
kind  brought  before  them  were  free  from  all  tinge  of  sus- 
picion, and  to  this  end,  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of 
laws  on  this  subject,  they  were  compelled  to  produce  the 
archives  in  many  cases,  and  compare  the  copies,  so  as  to 
prove  their  authenticity,  and  have  them  certified  to  by  the 
secretary. 

Besides  the  official  archives  of  Mexico,  the  Commissioners 
considered  necessary  extracts  from  the  archives  of  Texas,  and, 
in  this  connection,  they  would  remark  on  the  activity  and 
intelligence  manifested  by  the  Mexican  consul  in  Brownsville, 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


11 


and  the  vice-consul  in  San  Antonio,  in  the  compilation  of  this 
testimony.  The  partial  results  obtained  have  convinced  the 
Commissioners  that  a detailed  examination  of  these  records, 
particularly  those  of  the  tribunals  since  1848,  which  have 
held  jurisdiction  in  what  is  known  as  "Western  Texas,  would 
manifest  data  of  the  most  important  nature,  which  are  to-day 
unknown  or  forgotten,  and  wMch  could  be  made  of  avail  in 
defense  of  their  system  of  investigation  relative  to  the  frontier 
questions. 

In  the  course  of  this  work  the  Commissioners  lieard  of  a 
pamphlet  published  in  Washington,  under  the  title  of  “Report 
of  the  U.  S.  Commissioners  to  Texas,”  dated  10th  December, 
1872,  and  bearing  'on  the  questions  relative  to  the  frontier. 
Although  the  Commissioners  had  no  official  knowledge  of  this 
document,  they  have  availed  themselves  of  the  suggestions 
therein  contained,  and  made  several  points  in  their  investiga- 
tions. 

In  this  manner,  and  in  various  other  ways,  the  Commis- 
sioners believe  they  have  reached  the  truth.  They  threw  wide 
the  doors  for  evidence  for  or  against  Mexico,  and  any  who 
chose  could  declare  as  they  pleased  ; they  noted  the  accusations 
made  by  both  frontiers,  and  used  every  naethod  to  investigate 
the  truth,  concealing  nothing  ; and,  when  satisfied  of  the  facts, 
and  assured  of  the  degree  of  fault  on  either  frontier,  since 
1848,  and  of  the  causes  of  disturbance  occurring  in  those 
regions,  they  have  endeavored  to  find  the  best  measures  to 
suppress  the  evil. 


II. 

In  the  examination  of  the  relations  between  the  frontiers 
since  1848,  the  first  striking  point  is  the  system  of  cattle 
thieves.  During  the  Texan  war  and  afterwards,  in  fact  up  to 
1848,  horse  and  cattle  stealing  increased  to  so  great  an  extent, 
in  the  district  north  of  Rio  Bravo  to  Xueces,  as  to  almost 
depopulate  the  country  by  ridding  the  inhabitants  of  their 
stock. 


12 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


Bands  of  Americans,  Texans,  Mexicans,  and  Indians,  in  a 
few  years,  exhausted  the  wealth  of  that  region.  The  settlers 
were  few  in  number,  and  lacked  the  vigilance  of  either  the 
Mexican  or  Texan  authorities,  so  that  they  not  only  lost  their 
wealth,  but  gave  scope  to  a degree  of  license  and  immorality 
of  itself  dangerous  and  degrading.  The  early  emigrants  to 
that  part  of  Texas  did  nothing  towards  correcting  this  state  of 
things,  hut,  on  the  contrary,  aggravated  the  evil,  for  they  were 
not  themselves  noted  for  rectitude  or  sobriety.  It  was  the 
refuge  for  criminals  flying  from  justice  in  Mexico;  adventurers 
from  the  United  States,  who  sought  a fortune,  unscrupulous  of 
the  means  of  procuring  it;  and  vagrants  from  all  parts  of  the 
State  of  Texas,  hoping,  in  the  shadow  of  existing  disorganiza- 
tion and  lawlessness,  to  escape  punishment  for  their  crimes. 
Under  this  head  the  Commission  does  not  class  all  the  early 
emigrants  to  Southwestern  Texas  since  1848.  Far  from  this  ; 
it  acknowledges  in  many  of  them  the  highest  moral  standard, 
hut,  compared  with  the  mass,  they  constituted  but  a small  pro- 
portion, too  small  to  give  tone  to  that  class  of  people,  and  check 
the  characteristic  lawlessness  of  the  district. 

The  thirst  for  wealth  had  become  such  a strong  passion,  that 
any  means  of  procuring  it  seemed  fair  and  legal.  The  district 
from  Rio  Bravo  to  ^^ueces  had  been  cleared  of  its  live  stock  ; 
only  the  land  remained ; and  rapacity  knowing  no  bounds,  the 
lands  were  seized,  by  many  through  force  of  arras,  but  generally 
by  persons  clothed  with  feigned  legal  power.  This  frontier  dis- 
trict, extending  along  the  Rio  Bravo,  abounded  in  droves  of 
horses : the  horse  thieves  of  Mexico  commenced  operations  here, 
which  assumed  from  the  onset  alarming  proportions,  and  the 
traflic  in  Texas  of  horses  stolen  from  Mexico  became  a matter 
of  commonplace  merchandise.  The  facility  which  the  horse 
thieves  enjoyed,  since  1848,  of  disposing  of  the  stolen  animals 
on  the  Texan  shore  of  the  Rio  Bravo,  increased  the  evil  to  an 
alarming  extent.  This  pernicious  influence  has  injured  the  in- 
dustrial impulses  of  the  Mexican  frontier,  since  the  results  of 
horse  stealing,  and  the  evil  influence  of  the  thieves,  have  proven 
more  fatal  to  the  country  than  the  revolutions. 

Horse  stealing  in  Mexico  may  be  classed  under  two  dif- 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


13 


ferent  heads  : one,  the  appropriation  of  roving  droves,  taken  a 
few  leagues  from  the  banks  of  the  Kio  Bravo,  within  Mexican 
territory,  transported  across  the  river  into  Texas,  and  driven  in 
lots  into  the  interior  of  the  State  ; the  other  is  the  seizure  of 
horses  in  the  interior  of  the  Mexican  frontier  wherever  horses 
can  be  found. 

Although  testimonial  evidence  on  all  these  points  has  been 
most  useful  and  important,  yet  circumstantial  proofs  culled 
from  the  archives  have  in  all  eases  been  more  conclusive.  In 
those  examined  by  the  Commission  are  a series  of  regulations 
framed  by  the  municipal  and  police  authorities  for  the  suj^pres- 
sion  of  horse  thieves  in  the  towns  lying  on  the  bank  of  the  river. 
Very  few  of  these  measures  looked  to  the  prevention  of  the 
traffic  in  stolen  cattle  from  Texas,  from  which  it  would  seem 
that  this  evil  did  not  exist  to  the  same  extent ; whilst  on  the 
contrary,  the  laws*  had  in  view  the  damages  resulting  from 
horse  stealing  in  Mexico,  and  the  transportation  of  the  horses 
into  Texas,  proving  that  this  was  the  greater  traffic,  and  the 
one  that  needed  greater  legislation.  Measures  for  the  preven- 
tion of  this  crime  have  been  issued  in  every  town  along  the 
river,  from  which  it  may  be  deduced  tiiat  like  injuries  were  ex- 
perienced in  every  village  on  the  Mexican  line ; and  as  these 
preventive  measures  were  constant  and  frequently  repeated,  it 
would  seem  that  the  injuries  were  constant  and  frequently  re- 
curring. 

It  is  useless  for  the  Commission  to  go  into  a detailed  ac- 
count of  the  various  measures  adopted  by  Mexican  authorities 
to  suppi’ess  this  evil,  but,  considering  these  documents  of  in- 
trinsic value  as  bearing  on  the  characteristic  relations  of  both 
frontiers,  the  Commission  took  especial  care  in  the  selection  of 
extracts  from  all  of  these  regulations,  arranging  them  in  chron- 
ological order,  and  at  times  copying  them  entirely,  when  they 
offered  any  particular  interest. 

The  great  weight  of  these  proofs  cannot  be  estimated  from 
a few  isolated  measures  of  this  kind,  but  must  be  judged  as  a 
whole ; for  whilst  instituting  a repressive  system  of  horse  steal- 
ing on  the  Mexican  frontier  for  the  Texan  market,  since  1848, 
they  also  indicate  the  robberies  organized  on  the  Texan  shore 
of  the  Rio  Bravo,  in  injury  to  Mexican  proprietors. 


u 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


The  judicial  record  is  another  element  for  illustrating  the 
frontier  question,  since  1848,  as  regards  horse  stealing  in  Mexico, 
In  the  majority  of  criminal  prosecutions  against  the  cattle 
thieves,  the  evidence  produced  went  to  show  that  the  stolen 
animals  had  been  conducted  by  the  thieves  to  the  United  States 
frontier,  and  then  sold  to  dealei's.  The  Commission  has  made 
chronological  extracts  from  all  criminal  cases  relative  to  cattle 
thieves  tried  before  the  judicial  court  of  each  of  the  towns  they 
visited,  and  the  entire  number  of  these  different  extracts  cor- 
roborates the  deductions  made  from  the  preventive  measures 
adopted  by  the  executive  authorities.  The  number  of  horses 
stolen  in  Mexico  for  the  Texan  market  may  be  judged  by  the 
following : 

1st.  From  the  testimony  of  those  whose  horses  were  stolen, 
and  who  had  proofs  of  their  having  been  carried  into  Texas.  The 
horses,  having  on  several  occasions  been  pnikued,  were  found 
by  their  masters,  who  instituted  criminal  proceedings  against 
the  thieves,  the  result  of  which  sometimes  proved  favorable, 
but  generally  the  costs  were  so  heavy  that  they  often  amounted 
to  as  much,  and  at  times  to  more,  than  the  value  of  the  prop- 
erty recovered. 

2d.  From  that  of  persons  who  were  eye-witnesses  to  the 
acts  of  the  robbers,  some  of  them  men  who  had  charge  of  the 
horses,  others  who  had  seen  the  horses  driven  across  the  river 
to  the  Texan  border,  and  still  others  who  had  aided  in  the 
pursuit  from  the  bank  of  the  river  into  the  interior  of  Texas. 

3d.  By  testimony  of  members  of  the  police  force  who,  in 
pursuit  of  the  thieves,  noticed  that  their  depredations  extended 
to  Jimenez,  Marina,  and  Tamaulipas,  sixty  leagues  south  of  the 
Bio  Bravo,  after  the  continued  robberies  had  exhausted  the 
horses  of  the  districts  of  Matamoros  and  San  Fernando,  thirty 
leagues  south  of  the  river. 

4th.  From  evidence  of  those  competent  to  judge  of  horse- 
flesh, and  familiar  with  their  pasturage  since  1848,  who  have 
remarked  the  diminution  or  total  disappearance  of  them  in  cer- 
tain districts  where  horses  had  previously  abounded,  from  rob- 
beries and  entirely  independent  of  their  destruction  from  rev- 
olutions. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


15 


5tli.  From  that  of  merchants  who,  having  driven  horses  into 
Texas,  found  difficulty  in  disposing  of  them,  by  reason  of  the 
low  prices  at  which  stolen  horses  could  he  bought,  and  which 
was  far  below  their  market  value.  Stolen  horses  are  generally 
sold  in  Texas  at  prices  below  what  the  proprietors  charge  for 
them  in  Mexico.  Competition  is  constant  when  it  is  remem- 
bered that  robberies  are  continued.  The  nearer  you  approach 
the  Rio  Bravo  the  greater  the  competition,  and  for  this  reason 
the  dealers  in  horses  honestly  procured  drive  them  into  the 
northern  part  of  Texas  when  possible,  so  as  to  secure  better 
sales,  and  escape  the  competition  with  dealers  of  stolen  horses 
who  as’semble  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Rio  Bravo. 

Notwithstanding  all  these  convincing  and  varied  proofs, 
which  the  minutest  scrutiny  only  served  to  corroborate,  and 
despite  the  previous  testimony  given  by  persons,  the  majority 
of  whom  bear  the  most  unimpeachable  reputations,  the  Com- 
mission, in  its  research  for  the  true  facts  of  the  case  through 
the  medium  of  official  documents,  did  not  fail  to  make  use  of 
the  slightest  written  proof  that  could  be  made  of  avail.  ' 

The  repeated  measures  taken  by  the  administrative  author- 
ities doubtless  indicate  the  increase  of  horse  stealing  in  Mexico 
for  the  Texan  market,  for  it  is  not  natural  that  regulations  of 
such  a stringent  nature  could,  through  a long  series  of  years, 
have  been  enacted  by  different  persons  and  in  different  districts, 
and  so  tenaciously  adhered  to,  had  not  the  interest  at  stake 
been  one  of  great  importance  ; on  the  contrary,  all  the  data 
collected  from  this  source  point  to  the  general  evil,  but  the 
Commission  needed  something  still  more  definite  than  lesfal 
enactments,  pointing  only  to  generalities.  Statistics  are  in 
their  infancy  in  this  country,  and  unable  to  furnish  the  Com- 
mission with  the  exact  figures,  and  they  were  in  consequence 
compelled  to  be  satisfied  with  the  best  information  they  could 
procure,  from  scarce  and  isolated  sources. 

The  robberies  at  length  assumed  such  proportions  that  the 
Town  Council  of  Reynosa,  on  the  11th  of  March,  1852,  ad- 
dressed the  Mexican  consul  at  Brownsville,  informing  him  of 
the  injuries  suffered  by  the  proprietors;  and  also  stating  that  a 
band  of  Americans  under  Frederick  Mathews  had  established 


16 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


themselves  in  Las  Salinas,  and  collected  a drove  of  horses 
amounting  to  four  hundred,  stolen  from  the  pasturage  on  the 
bank  of  the  river;  the  corporation  also  added  that  this  was 
not  the  first  time  that  Mathews  had  engaged  in  such  traffic,  and 
asked  the  consul  to  inform  the  authorities  of  Brownsville,  and 
request  that  something  be  done  to  stay  the  evil. 

The  consul  replied  that  he  had  conferred  with  the  collector 
of  customs,  and  that  that  officer  had  oi’dered  the  horses  so  in- 
troduced by  Mathews  to  be  seized  as  contraband  ; that  the  last 
heard  of  Mathews  he  was  near  Nueces  on  his  way  to  San  Patri- 
cio, and  that  they  hoped  to  overtake  him.  The  consul  added 
that  he  had  induced  the  collector  of  customs,  to  publish  a no- 
tice threatening  the  importers  of  horses  with  the  penalty  of  the 
law,  if  any  were  found  guilty  of  making  contraband  importa- 
tions. 

This  notice  was  accordingly  published  in  the  “Bandera 
Americana,”  a periodical  issued  in  Brownsville,  a copy  of 
which  dated  April  ITth,  1853,  has  been  filed  with  the  “ expe- 
dienter  In  this  notice,  John  S.  Pliea,  collector  of  customs 
at  Point  Isabel,  declares  that  having  received  information 
that  a large  number  of  horses  had  been  stolen  from  Mexican 
citizens  of  Reynosa,  and  had  been  illegally  introduced  into  the 
States,  and  taken  to  the  interior  of  Texas  to  be  sold,  the  inhab- 
itants are  warned  of  the  penalties  of  law  incured  by  any  who 
knowingly  and  willingly  take  part  m these  fraudulent  proceed- 
ings. 

They  were  not  successful  in  recovering  all  the  horses  stolen 
by  Mathews ; a part  only  were  taken  on  their  way  to  San  An- 
tonio de  Bejar,  of  which  seizure  the  consul  gave  notice  to  the 
authorities  of  that  town  ; but  such  was  the  iusecui’e  and  dis- 
organized condition  of  affairs  in  Texas,  that  the  owners  of  the 
stolen  animals  were  attacked  by  bands  of  American  highwaj-- 
men,  attempting  to  regain  the  stolen  property  by  main  force. 

Not  only  do  these  various  documents  exhibit  the  exactness 
of  the  judgment  formed  by  the  Commission,  but  they  also  show 
how  the  illicit  traffic  had  increased,  mentioning  one  lot  of  stolen 
horses  amounting  to  over  four  hundred  in  number.  The  grav- 
ity of  the  question  is  revealed  by  the  steps  taken  by  the  town 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


17 


council  in  the  appeal  to  the  Mexican  consul  at  Brownsville, 
and  in  the  prompt  measures  taken  by  the  custom-house  offi- 
cials, especially  those  at  Point  Isabel,  who  not  only  took  the 
matter  up,  but  sought  through  the  application  of  the  laws,  the 
remedy  of  the  ills  complained  of  and  endured  on  the  Mexican 
frontier,  probably  because  they  were  well  aware  of  the 
extent  of  the  injuries  done  to  the  inhabitants  along  the  whole 
length  of  tlie  Mexican  line. 

Horse  stealing  on  so  vast  a scale  from  the  pastures  along  the 
river  has  greatly  diminished  in  the  last  few  years.  Tlie  Com- 
mission is  of  opinion  that  this  diminution  may  be  attributed 
to  the  scarcity  of  animals,  owing  to  robberies  and  revolutions  ; 
but  although  horse  stealing  lessened  in  the  river  pasturage,  it 
continued  with  some  energy  in  the  districts  somewhat  distant 
from  the  river,  where  the  interests  of  the  country  were  greater. 

Laying  aside  all  the  corroborative  evidence  by  the  various 
witnesses  on  this  point,  there  is  one  document  well  worthy  of 
special  attention.  Don  Trinidad  Garza  y Melo,  a lawyer, 
made  some  notes  for  the  criminal  statistics  of  Nuevo  Leon,  on 
the  4th  of  February,  1870,  and  these  were  published  long 
before  any  one  dreamed  that  they  would  serve  as  an  index  for 
these  investigations.  Seiior  Garza  Melo  was  Judge  of  the  Su- 
preme Court  of  the  State  in  the  years  1868  and  1869,  and  he 
affirms  that  the  data  from  which  his  work  was  compiled  were 
selected  from  expedientes’’^  issued  by  him.  Out  of  three 
hundred  and  eight^'-six  cases  tried  before  him  in  those  two 
years,  one  hundred  and  thirty-three,  that  is,  the  third  part, 
were  for  horse  stealing.  . He  attributes  the  frequency  of  tliis 
crime  to  the  three  following  causes  : the  disorders  growing  out 
of  a common  pasturage ; the  extent  and  loneliness  of  the 
plains  ; and  finally,  the  proximity  of  the  Kio  Bravo,  to  the  left 
shore  of  which  the  stolen  animals  could  be  so  easily  and  quickly 
transported,  with  the  certainty  of  disposing  of  them  without 
delay  in  foreign  territory,  and  with  the  still  more  positive  cer- 
tainty of  not  being  pursued  or  molested. 

By  the  frequency  of  the  crime  the  number  of  animals  stolen 
may  be  fairly  estimated  ; by  the  number  of  cases  tried  we  can 
judge  of  the  evilj  by  the  condemnation  of  the  delinquents  in 


18 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


some  cases,  and  by  the  accusations,  even  where  there  was  no 
evidence  to  point  to  the  true  criininai,  it  will  be  conclusive  that 
a wrong  exists,  and  that  its  destructive  results  may  still  be  per- 
ceived ; that  it  has  only  changed  its  vantage  ground ; that  as 
soon  as  the  animals  in  one  district  had  been  captured  and  the 
interests  of  the  country  damaged,  it  bad  passed  to  another, 
where  its  evil  influence  was  experienced  by  not  only  the  pro- 
prietors, but  also  the  laboring  classes  of  society. 


III. 

A careful  study  of  the  origin  and  subsequent  development 
of  horse  stealing  in  Mexico  for  the  Texan  market,  afibrds  abund- 
ant information  of  the  different  persons  who  have  been  ad- 
dicted to  this  class  of  crime.  A distinction  should  be  made 
between  those  serving  as  emissaries  and  the  originators  and 
actual  instigators  of  the  crime.  To  determine  this  question  as 
regards  the  first,  and  the  inducements  held  out  to  them  by  the 
Texan  frontiersmen  in  the  robberies  committed  in  Mexico,  it 
will  be  necessary  to  distinguish  the  actual  residents  of  the 
country  from  those  considered  by  the  Commission  as  simply 
instruments,  and  to  this  end  the  following  classification  was 
decided  upon  : 

Under  the  head  of  those  serving  as  instruments  of  others  in 
the  depredations  in  Mexico,  whose  residence  is  supposed  to  be 
in  that  country,  may  be  mentioned  the  following  classes  : 

1st.  Those  who  reside  in  Mexico. 

2d.  Those  who  have  no  fixed  place  of  residence,  and  wan- 
der from  place  to  place,  and  who,  when  pursued  on  the  Mexi- 
can frontier,  flee  to  Texas,  and  return  to  Mexico  after  a period 
of  years,  when  persuaded  that  they  have  been  forgotten,  or  that 
it  would  be  impossible  to  prove  their  crimes. 

3d.  Those  who  reside  in  Texas. 

These  latter  may  be  divided  into  two  classes.  1st.  Texan 
citizens  who  have  always  resided  in  Texas,  both  American  and 
Mexican.  2d.  Emigrants  from  Mexico  who  take  up  their 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


19 


abode  in  Texas  after  becoming  citizens,  or  at  all  events  exercise 
that  right,  althoiigli  abusively. 

The  emigrants  from  Mexico  to  Texas  may  be  subdivided 
into  tliree  categories  ; but  before  natning  them  it  is  necessary 
to  explain  that  the  greater  portion  of  Mexican  emigrants  to 
Texas  are  honest,  hard-working  people,  fleeing  the  revolutions 
in  their  own  countr3\  and  giving  their  labor,  and  not  unfre- 
quently  capital,  to  the  State.  These  are  not  the  emigrants  to 
whom  we  allude,  but  there  are  others  who  lend  themselves  as 
instruments  of  the  horse  thieves,  and  who  may  be  classed  as 
follows:  1.  Criminals  escaping  from  the  course  of  the  law  and 
seeking  refuge  on  the  Texan  shore,  or  who  without  having  been 
prosecuted  take  up  their  nominal  abode  there,  so  as  to  commit 
their  criminal  depredations  on  the  Mexican  frontier  with  im- 
punity ; and  it  has  been  observed  that  the  majoi'ity  of  those 
who  are  engaged  in  horse  stealing  in  Mexico  reside  in  Texas. 
2.  Deserters  trom  the  soldiery  on  guard  on  the  Mexican  fron- 
tier. 3.  Laborers  who,  on  account  of  the  scarcity  of  hands  in 
Texas  and  the  rate  of  wages  in  the  States,  with  great  anticipa- 
tions of  acquiring  a fortune,  and  at  the  same  time  fleeing  from 
their  obligations  at  home,  and  who  are  apt  to  commit  robberies 
before  leaving. 

It  is  absolutely  necessary  to  comprehend  these  distinctions 
so  as  to  appreciate  the  question  of  the  frontier  ; but  whilst  they 
serve  as  one  of  the  elements  by  which  to  resolve  it,  they  are 
not  the  only,  and  perhaps  are  the  least  important  features  in 
the  case. 

It  is  expedient  to  investigate  where  the  robberies  were  or- 
ganized, where  the  combinations  were  formed,  that  led  to  the 
depredations  in  our  country;  it  is  probable  that  where  these 
combinations  were  made,  a number  of  criminals  must  have  been 
united,  perhaps  accidently,  who  resided  in  Mexico  or  who  as 
vagabonds  were  domicile  ! in  Texas. 

The  question  of  habitation  becomes  secondary  in  this  case, 
and  disappears  altogether  when  the  place  where  the  crime 
originated,  is  fairly  located.  We  must  next  examine  where 
the  stolen  goods  were  transported  ; where  the  trattic  in  them 
was  established  ; for  if  the  crime  had  reached  such  an  extent 


20 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


as  to  have  a market  for  the  disposal  of  stolen  animals,  we  have 
already  made  an  elementary  principle,  the  abode  of  the  delin- 
quents being  a matter  of  little  importance  as  their  names.  It 
is  very  certain  that  horse  stealing  would  never  have  reached 
such  an  extent  had  there  not  been  a safe  place  where  the  crime 
could  be  planned,  and  after  commission,  the  criminal  could  feel 
assured  not  only  of  safety  but  of  prompt  disposal  of  the  stolen 
property  by  advantageous  sales. 

The  principal  idea  in  this  question,  is  to  locate  the  place 
where  the  robberies  originated,  and  were  encouraged,  and  made 
of  avail ; the  secondary  consideration,  is  the  place  of  abode  of 
those  who  were  employed  as  instruments  for  the  commission  of 
the  crime;  but  although  this  latter  is  of  lesser  moment, it  does 
not  lack  importance,  since  it  shows  that  the  greater  number  of 
cattle  and  horse  theives,  as  well  as  the  most  audacious  of  them, 
reside  principally  on  the  opposite  shore,  and  have  crossed  from 
thence  to  perpetrate  depredations  in  Mexico. 

A great  many  of  the  documents  examined  by  the  Commission 
enumerate  the  robbers  who  have  crossed  the  river  to  steal  horses. 
From  these  documents  the  Commission  has  made  chronological 
extracts,  and  sometimes  entire  copies  of  the  preventive  regula- 
tions, issued  by  the  bordering  towns.  In  all  these  series  of 
laws,  it  may  be  noticed  that  great  stress  was  laid  by  the  au- 
thorities of  the  Mexican  frontier,  on  the  robbers  crossing  the 
river  from  Texas  to  Mexico,  and  on  the  organized  band  of 
theives  who  arranged  their  plans  on  the  Texan  shore,  and 
crossed  over  into  Mexico  to  execute  them. 

These  measures  plainly  indicate  that  although  some  of  the 
residents  of  Mexico  have  contributed  to  the  number  of  horse 
thieves,  that  the  greater  danger  and  damage  are  experienced  by 
the  robbers  from  Texas,  whose  only  intention  was  to  steal  and 
to  return  to  the  United  States  after  accomplishing  their  object. 

The  criminal  cases  confirm  the  deductions  made  from  these 
documents.  In  many  of  these  there  are  allusions  to  larcenies 
perpetrated  on  the  Mexican  frontier  by  persons  residing  in 
Texas,  and  as  these  are  not  isolated  cases,  but  on  the  contrary, 
are  of  frequent  recurrence,  and  to  be  found  in  all  the  docu- 
„njent8  in  criminal  cases  of  this  nature,  and  as  they  do  not  refer 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


21 


to  a certain  period  of  time,  but  simply  to  that  transpired  since 
1848,  it  is  to  be  concluded  that  the  majority  of  criminals  who 
for  years  have  pillaged  our  frontier,  reside  on  the  Texan  line. 

Conclusive  as  all  these  facts  appear,  the  Commission  con- 
siders the  question  to  have  a still  more  important  aspect,  and 
that  apart  from  the  nationality  or  place  of  residence  of  the 
thieves,  tlie  point  to  be  determined  is  the  responsibility  attach- 
ing to  the  Texan  frontier,  where  the  criminal  bands  are  organ- 
ized, and  where  the  benefit  is  derived  from  the  depredations 
of  tlie  robbers. 

The  associations  formed  in  Texas  for  the  purpose  of  stealing 
in  Mexico  have  taken  various  forms.  Sometimes  the  organiza- 
tions were  temporary  for  a special  object  or  for  a stipulated  pe- 
riod, and  at  others  the  organization  of  thieves  took  a perma- 
nent form.  A great  number  of  documents  ascribe  the  constant, 
threatening  attitude  of  the  population  on  the  shore  of  the 
Bravo  to  be  owing  to  the  bands  of  thieves  organized  in  Texas. 

One  of  the  most  scandalous  occurrences  of  the  period  was 
the  alliance  of  a band  of  nine  thieves  in  United  States  territory, 
who,  in  April,  1865,  went  to  Burgos,  forty  miles  south  of  Rio 
Bravo,  and  assaulted  Manuel  and  Esteban  de  la  Garza,  robbing 
them  of  two  thousand  dollars,  and  murdering  the  former;  after 
this  they  fled  across  to  the  left  bank  of  the  river  for  safety  and 
protection.  The  secret  investigations  instituted  by  the  Judge 
of  Camargo,  in  Davis  (Rio  Grande  City),  showed  the  gang  to 
be  composed  of  Jose  Maria  Cortes  and  eight  others,  whose 
names  also  appear  in  the  official  documents.  The  communica- 
tions which  passed  between  the  Judge  of  Reynosa  and  the  chief 
of  police  of  the  district  indicate  the  complaints  made  upon 
this  subject,  and  the  decisions  arrived  at  in  regard  to  it,  i.  e., 
that  the  invaders  had  been  organized  on  the  left  bank  of  tlie 
Bravo,  whither  they  had  immediately  returned  after  the  attack. 

In  former  years  there  had  also  been  transitory  organiza- 
tions, some  composed  of  notorious  criminals,  whose  advent  on 
the  Mexican  shore  was  always  marked  by  pillage,  although 
they  pretended  to  have  political  principles  to  defend,  and  wiio 
always  returned  after  a short  time  to  the  United  States  with 
the  products  of  their  depredations.  To  this  class  belonged  the 


22 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


bands  organized  tliree  times  by  Jose  Maria  Sanclicz  IT rest!,  in 
Texas,  in  the  last  three  years,  and  whom  he  led  into  Mexico. 
These  gangs  were  composed  of  thieves  famous  in  the  history  of 
plunder  and  distinguished  fur  kidnapping  and  other  crimes. 

They  entered  Mexico  as  regularly  organized  bands,  tlieir 
coming  was  expected  and  announced,  and  was  known  by  every 
one  on  the  Texan  shore.  They  selected  a j)oint  on  the  Bravo 
river  from  whence  they  could  most  easily  and  suddenly  attack 
the  inoffensive  proprietors  or  secure  liorses.  Some  of  the  stolen 
animals  were  recognized  in  Brownsville.  Amongst  tlie  compan- 
ions of  Uresti  in  these  expeditions  the  witnesses  recollect  San- 
tiago Nunez,  Julian  Rocha,  Zeferino  Garcia,  Macario  Trevino, 
Santiago  Sanchez,  Pedro  Cortes,  Geronimo  Perez,  and  the  two 
Lugos,  Pedro  and  Longinos.  as  criminals  and  accomplices  in  the 
robberies  of  cattle  and  liorses  on  either  shore. 

The  last  time  that  Sanchez  Uresti  passed  to  the  Mexican 
line,  he  did  so  with  a gang  of  thieves  whom  the  Lugos  had  had 
in  reserve  in  a place  called  “ Trasquilas,”  Texas,  about  two 
leagues  east  of  Brownsville.  This  will  be  a subject  for  exam- 
ination by  the  Commission  when  they  come  to  investigate  the 
question  of  cattle  robberies  in  Texas ; but  for  the  present,  they 
will  limit  themselves  to  saying  that  the  Lugos  were  notorious 
robbers,  designated  as  such  by  the  newspapers  of  Brownsville, 
which  accused  them  of  stealing  cattle  in  Texas.  Mention  is 
made  of  this  circumstance  so  as  to  give  to  the  Lugos  and  their 
accomplices  their  true  jiosition,  and  to  show  that  because  they 
chose  to  give  to  their  robberies  the  semblance  of  a revolution, 
it  did  not  alter  the  fact  of  theft  nor  change  the  actual  character 
of  the  men. 

These  temporary  confederations  of  thieves  on  the  Texan 
shore  were  doubtless  great  evils,  but  although  serious  enough, 
they  were  but  fleeting.  The  crime  once  committe  l for  which 
the  band  had  been  organized,  or  a certain  period  having  passed, 
the}'  disbanded.  The  gravest  question  of  all,  however,  and  the 
state  of  things  which  has  been  ruining  the  Mexican  frontier, 
is  not  the  existence  of  these  fleeting  bands,  but  the  organized 
system  developed  since  18l8,  for  the  protection  of  horse  steal- 
ing in  Mexico. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


23 


The  greatest  culprits  have  assuredly  not  been  those  who 
served  as  instruments,  but  those  who  availed  themselves  of  the 
spoils  by  purchasing  the  animals  at  reduced  prices.  These 
dealers  may  be  divided  into  three  classes. 

1.  Those  who  dwell  in  the  interior  of  Texas,  buying  all  the 
animals  they  can  secure  so  long  as  the  prices  are  low,  utterly 
disregarding  the  manner  in  which  the  animals  are  procured  by 
the  venders. 

2.  Those  who  come  from  the  interior  of  Texas  to  the  shore 
of  the  river  to  collect  droves  of  horses,  forming  contracts  with 
the  cattle  thieves  to  go  into  Mexico  and  procure  them  horses  at 
so  much  a head, 

3.  Those  who  reside  on  the  Texan  shore,  and  have  in  their 
employ  gangs  of  thieves  with  a view  to  horse  stealing  in 
Mexico. 

These  two  last  are  not  often  seen  in  person  with  their  cm- 
ploj’ees,  but  they  send  them  into  Mexico  with  the  object  of 
stealing,  wliilst  they  dedicate  themselves  with  all  security  to  the 
criminal  traflSc. 

As  regards  the  first,  it  is  a notorious  fact  that  the  purchas- 
ers take  very  little  pains  to  find  out  how  the  horses  are  pro- 
cured ; but,  on  the  contrary,  they  buy  the  animals,  never  inquir- 
ing for  any  document,  proving  ownership  or  importation  ac- 
cording to  law ; for  generally,  when  the  regular  price  is  charged, 
the  purchaser  requires  all  security  possible  from  future  claim- 
ants. 

Indeed  so  little  scruple  is  exhibited  upon  this  point,  that 
amongst  the  various  cases  examined  by  the  commission,  from 
which  its  documentary  evidence  is  selected,  there  appear  two 
cases  in  which  officers  of  the  United  States  and  Texas  were  im- 
plicated in  this  illegal  traffic. 

In  a case  entered  on  the  22d  February,  1850,  by  the  Judge 
of  Camargo,  against  Cayetano  Garza,  Dario  Juarez,  and  Ne- 
pomuceno  Sais  as  horse  thieves,  charged  with  stealing  six 
mules  from  Jose  Maria  Perez,  some  of  which  were  taken  to  Rio 
Grande  City,  Texas,  in  which  place  one  of  the  stolen  animals 
was  discovered  in  the  possession  of  the  quarter-master  of  the 
United  States  troops,  to  whom  it  had  been  sold. 


24 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


In  May,  ]872,  a drove  of  sixty-six  animals,  consisting  of 
horses,  mares,  mules,  and  colts,  was  stolen  from  the  ranclio 
“de  las  Estacas,”  in  the  jurisdiction  of  Matamoros,  from  Leon- 
ides Guerra.  Pursued  by  tlieir  owner,  a number  of  these  ani- 
mals were  found  in  tlie  possession  of  Thomas  Marsden,  sheriff 
of  the  county  of  Beeville,  Texas,  who  had  bought  them  at  the 
rate  of  eleven  dollars  a head. 

The  price  alone  is  quite  sufficient  to  prove  that  Marsden 
had  a perfect  knowledge  of  the  manner  in  which  the  animals 
were  procured  ; because,  not  only  in  Texas,  but  in  Mexico,  horses 
have  always  brought  a much  higher  sum  when  purchased  from 
their  legal  owners ; and  the  low  price  at  which  these  were 
offered  was  strong  presumptive  proof  that  they  were  stolen. 
This  charge  was  fully  proven  against  him  by  the  sentence 
passed  by  Judge  Adkins,  who  ordered  the  return  of  the  stolen 
animals  to  Guerra. 

The  dealers  of  the  second  class,  that  is,  they  who  come  to 
the  shore  of  the  River  Bravo,  to  organize  bands  of  robbers,  are 
still  more  culpable.  The  first  lend  a tacit  alliance  to  the 
thieves,  afl:brding  them  a safe  market  for  the  stolen  animals  ; 
whilst  the  latter  are  the  direct  agents,  contracting  with  the 
thieves  with  the  understanding  that  they  were  to  supply  them 
witli  stolen  animals.  The  habitual  periodical  visits  of  these 
dealers  are  generally  in  the  months  of  February  or  March  to 
October;  their  arrival  is  well  known,  for  no  sooner  do  these 
men  arrive,  than  the  horses,  mares,  and  mules  begin  to  disap- 
pear from  the  Mexican  coast. 

The  Commission  has  not  inquired  into  the  manner  in  which 
these  droves  are  collected  along  the  Texan  frontier,  not  consid- 
ering it  expedient  to  do  so,  but  has  limited  its  investigations  to 
the  occurrences  in  the  places  near  Brownsville,  because  an  es- 
timate of  the  state  of  affairs  in  all  the  counties  along  the  fron- 
tier may  be  easily  arrived  at,  when  a decision  is  formed  in  re- 
gard to  the  proceedings  in  more  important  places,  where  the 
population  is  more  dense,  and  where  cultivation  and  morality 
are  at  a higher  standard,  and  the  authorities  of  the  law  more 
powerfuh 

To  the  surroundings  of  Brownsville  to  the  Colorado  river, 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


25 


that  is  to  say,  about  ten  or  twelve  leagues  north  of  Rio  Bravo, 
nature  ofiers  wonderful  facilities  for  the  concealment  of  stolen 
animals.  There  are  dense  woods  in  which  are  spots  easily 
reached  by  narrow  patliways,  and  so  hedged  in  by  branches  as 
to  form  secure  and  perfect  enclosures;  water  is  plentiful  in  'the 
ravines,  the  pasture  is  abundant,  and  everything  offers  con- 
veniences to  the  dealers  in  stolen  horses  to  conceal  the  fruit  of 
their  crime.  ^ 

The  droves  of  stolen  horses  collected  here  never  amount  to 
a great  number,  for  as  they  are  often  pursred  by  their  owners, 
the  robbers  drive  them  as  soon  as  possible  to  the  interior  of  the 
country  to  avoid  their  capture.  The  droves  formed  on  the 
banks  of  tlie  Rio  Bravo  are  composed  of  animals  stolen  during 
the  night  from  the  breeding  farms,  enclosures  or  pastures  lying 
along  the  banks  of  the  river;  these  are  taken  across  the  same 
night.  The  animals  that  one  thief  can  secure  in  a single  night 
do  not  amount  to  many ; the  evil  consists  in  the  number  of 
thieves  and  their  continued  depredations.  Thus  the  drove  is 
increased  until  the  number  agreed  upon  has  been  procured  to 
fill  the  dealer’s  order,  and  as  there  are  many  dealers  who  carry 
on  this  illicit  traffic  during  the  course  of  the  year,  the  horse 
thieves  have  almost  entirely  exhausted  the  resources  of  the  pro- 
prietors along  the  river  margin. 

One  of  the  means  by  which  the  animals  were  recognized 
was  the  great  diversity  of  marks  and  brands  in  a drove,  prov- 
ing beyond  a doubt  that  a great  many  persons  had  been  robbed. 
Persons  in  search  of  their  own  property,  or  by  some  lucky 
chance,  have  had  the  opportunity  of  seeing  these  droves  and 
identifying  the  animals  by  their  marks  and  brands.  These 
opportunities  have  been  rare,  however,  only  obtained  through 
superior  force  or  by  accident,  for  as  a general  rule  the  drivers 
of  such  droves  never  consent  to  allow  them  to  be  examined. 

As  horse  stealing  is  generally  followed  by  contraband  im- 
portations, in  Texas,  the  necessity  for  concealment  becomes 
imperative,  both  before  and  after  c<’ossing  the  river,  and  first 
the  thieves  and  afterwards  the  dealers  are  compelled  to  proceed 
in  an  underhand  manner. 

This  is  one  of  the  forms  of  robbery  organized  in  Texas  since 


26 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


1S48  in  injury  to  tlic  frontier,  and  altliougl>  more  serious  tlian 
the  first,  it  is  less  so  than  the  last  case,  which  embraces  the 
residents  on  the  river  bank  who  have  in  their  emplo}’  a gang 
of  tliieves  which,  on  some  occasions,  they  have  accompanied  in 
person,  but  who  have  limited  themselves,  especially  in  later 
years,  to  direct  the  proceeding  of  these  bands  for  their  own 
benefit.  These  are  without  doubt  the  most  culpable,  because 
they  not  only  contribute  to  the  development  of  demoralization, 
but  they  ai'e  in  constant  and  active  conspiracy  against  the 
breeders  on  the  Mexican  frontier.  In  the  official  documents 
referred  to  may  be  found  the  mention  of  a great  many  persons 
engaged  in  this  eommerce,  and  charges  and  evidenee  against 
them,  which  the  Commission  did  not  care  to  investigate  too 
deei)ly,  as  the  work  would  have  been  laborious,  and  the  names 
and  number  of  the  instijirators  of  horse  stealing:  in  Mexico  since 
1848  was  not  so  important  as  tlie  collection  of  facts.  A few 
special  instances  have  been  cited,  and  even  in  the  selection  of 
these  the  Commission  has  been  particular  so  far  as  persons 
were  concerned,  not  only  because  these  were  unable  to  defend 
themselves,  but  because  it  is  unwilling  to  expose  the  names  of 
any  save  the  most  notorious,  and  even  this  is  only  resorted  to 
because  of  tlie  necessity  to  mention  some  special  cases  so  as  to 
form  a correct  idea  of  the  condition  of  the  frontier  at  this  time. 

In  the  years  immediatelj'  following  1848,  there  were  houses 
established  in  Brownsville  for  the  traffic  in  stolen  animals; 
among.st  others  was  a Spaniard  named  Eamon  Larrosquito,  and 
a guerrilla  chief  of  the  war  of  1846  who  bore  the  title  of  Col. 
Dominguez.  Both  of  these  and  the  others  who  were  dedicated 
to  this  ti-affic  had  each  an  enclosure,  the  walls  of  which  were 
so  high  as  to  impede  the  view  of  what  was  inside;  in  this  were 
kept  the  horses  or  mules  until  the  opportunity  offered  for  con- 
veying them  to  some  of  the  hiding  places  in  the  woods,  on  the 
outskirts  of  Brownsville,  where  the  droves  were  formed  that 
were  to  be  carried  into  the  interior  of  Texas. 

As  regards  Dominguez,  the  documentary  evidence  is  cor- 
roborated by  the  depositions  of  the  witnesses.  In  a case 
entered  in  1852  against  a Spaniard  by  the  name  of  Pedro 
Ugarte,  various  crimes  were  proved  against  Dominguez,  by 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


27 


wliom  Ugarte  was  employed  in  the  capacity  of  clerk.  These 
two  liad  imported  six  mules  stolen  from  Eusebio  Gomez,  of 
Reynosa.  The  proof  brought  by  Deputy  Collector  P.  S. 
SliHnnon,  of  the  custom  house  at  Brownsville,  did  not  leave  the 
slightest  doubt  upon  this  subject. 

Besides,  Dominguez  was  not  only  a dealer  in  stolen  ani- 
mals. He  was  chief  of  a band  of  robbers  who  habitually  com- 
mitted depredations  in  Mexico.  Three  of  these  were  appre- 
hended in  1851,  and  executed  in  Matainoros. 

There  were  other  individuals,  who  although  they  had  no 
regular  commercial  house,  engaged  in  the  traffic,  and  went 
into  Mexico  to  steal.  Several  Americans  and  Mexicans  are 
accused  of  accompanying  these  expeditions,  but  it  will  suffice 
to  mention  the  names  of  William  D.  Thomas,  commonly  called 
Red  Thomas,  and  a Spaniard,  Juan  Lopez  Arenas.  The  former 
committed  horse  stealing  in  this  form  at  first,  but  of  late  years 
he  has  confined  himself  to  forming  the  bands  and  collecting 
through  them  droves  of  horses  stolen  in  Mexico. 

As  to  the  latter,  traces  of  his  crimes  are  to  be  found  in  some 
of  the  criminal  cases.  The  first  opens  with  an  accusation 
against  Lopez  Arenas,  in  1853,  for  the  theft  of  two  droves  from 
the  estate  Vaqueria:  the  other  followed  in  1857,  against 
Porfirio  Munguia  for  having  taken  Lopez  Arenas  and  some  of 
his  gang  across  the  river,  from  the  left  ba.nk  into  Mexican  ter- 
ritory, for  the  purpose  of  stealing  animals. 

Of  the  various  persons  accused  in  the  documents  of  actually 
patronizing  the  robbers  on  the  other  side  of  the  river,  and  of 
encouraging  theft  in  Mexico,  the  Commission  will  limit  itself 
to  the  mention  of  Adolfo  Glaevecke,  Thadeus  Rhodes,  and  the 
Estapas,  as  cases  of  peculiar  notoriety,  and  because  they  are  so 
well  established  by  the  public  voice  that  the  Commission  feels 
confident  that  the  accusations  are  unbiased  by  calumny;  also 
because  these  men  hold  or  have  held  positions  of  public  trust, 
and  finally  because  as  they  live  apart  from  each  other,  traveling 
twenty-five  leagues  from  Brownsville  to  Edinburgh  over  an 
extent  of  land  in  which  is  situated  three  different  headquarters 
of  I'obbers. 

Tlie  antecedents  of  Glaevecke  and  Rhodes  are  not  of  recent 


28 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


date.  They  are  contemporaries,  at  least,  in  the  robberies  com- 
mitted in  1848,  and  which  have  since  continued.  Adolfo 
Glaevecke  is  one  of  those  who  have  most  actively  en^a^ed  in 

tf  o O 

horse  stealing  in  Mexico,  ever  since  the  Rio  Bravo  has  been 
the  dividing  line  between  the  two  nations. 

Persons  who  have  belonged  to  the  police  corps,  accomplices 
of  Glaevecke,  and  persons  who  have  a]ipearcd  in  court  at  vari- 
ous times  to  reclaim  stolen  animals,  have  appeared  before  the 
Commission  as  witnesses  against  Glaevecke,  so  that  with  all 
the  overwhelming  testimony  before  them,  the  Commission  feels 
confident  to  express  an  ojunion  as  to  his  character.  Glaevecke 
owns  a horse  pen  on  the  Texas  shore  of  the  river,  which  used 
to  bear  the  name  of  Santa  Rita,  but  is  now  called  Lineno.  On 
one  side  of  this  enclosure  was  the  ford  known  as  Tia  Morales. 
Here  the  thieves  in  the  employ  of  Glaevecke  congregate,  and 
to  tliis  pen,  or  enclosure,  are  the  animals  stolen  in  Mexico 
carried  ; driven  for  the  most  part  across  the  ford  Tia  Morales. 
The  evidence  of  tlie  witnesses  on  this  point  is  corroborated  by 
documentary  testimony.  This  ford  was  the  object  of  the  most 
active  vigilance  on  the  part  of  the  authorities,  and  the  extracts 
from  tlie  documents  in  Matamoros  show  that  seizure  was  here 
often  made  of  thieves  and  stolen  animals,  and  that  various 
enactments  of  law  were  made  to  guard  the  ford  of  Tia  Morales. 

Nevertheless,  it  was  not  from  either  Lineiio  or  Santa  Rita 
that  the  great  droves  of  horses  were  taken  into  the  interior  of  the 
State;  this  enclosure  was  simply  used  as  a temporary  resting 
place,  on  account  of  the  facilities  offered  by  its  proximity  to 
the  ford.  From  here  the  animals  were  taken  to  Palo  Alto,  and 
in  that  district  the  number  necessary  to  complete  the  drove 
was  furnished,  and  from  thence  driven  into  Texas. 

How  vast  this  speculation  was,  may  be  imagined  from  the 
fact  that  Glaevecke  had  a large  farm  house  in  Palo  Alto,  in 
which  dwelt  ten  servants  who  liad  charge  of  the  animals  until 
they  were  driven  into  the  State. 

Glaevecke  did  not  act  entirely  on  his  own  account,  but  was 
also  the  agent  of  other  Americans  in  the  interior  of  Texas,  to 
whom  the  droves  were  delivered  when  completed.  The  Lineno 
pen  was  not  only  used  for  illegal  purposes  by  himself,  but  lent 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


29 


to  otliers  for  the  same  purpose ; and  one  of  those  who  made  use 
of  the  enclosure  Santa  Rita  to  conceal  stolen  horses  was  Tomas 
Colorado  (William  D.  Thomas).  But  apart  from  these  incidental 
circumstances,  in  which  various  other  persons  were  engaged, 
this  spot  has  been  the  headquarters  of  a band  of  robbers,  who 
at  times  have  made  expeditions  of  one  or  two  months,  into  the 
interior  of  the  State  of  Tamaulipas,  from  whence  they  drove 
large  numbers  of  horses.  To  this  band  of  robbers  belonged 
Florencio  Garza  and  Juan  Yela,  who  were  afterwards  hung 
in  Brownsville,  Marcos  Guerra,  a famous  horse  thief,  who  is 
now  living,  and  still  under  Glaeveeke’s  protection,  Tomas 
Yazquez,  not  less  notorious  than  Guerra,  Cornclio  Yazqiicz, 
Felii)e  Trevino  Yela,  Manuel  Rodriguez  Yela,  and  others 
whose  names  the  witnesses  had  forgotten. 

If  the  majority  of  these  witnesses  are  to  be  believed,  and 
the  Commission  has  had  no  reason  to  doubt  them,  Glaevecke 
has  up  to  the  present  continued  his  illegal  traffic  in  animals 
stolen  from  Mexico.  He  is  a juror  in  the  county  of  Cameron, 
was  elected  alderman  of  the  municipal  corporation  of  Browns- 
ville in  1866,  and  re-elected  in  1873. 

The  second  case  is  that  of  Thadeus  Rhodes,  commonly 
known  among  Mexicans  as  Teodoro.”  He  is  a resident  of 
Rosario,  in  the  county  of  Hidalgo,  Texas,  and  under  his  au- 
thority and  protection,  especially  in  former  years,  a band  of 
robbers  dwelt,  who  pillaged  the  farms  of  Reynosa  and  the  vil- 
lages of  Nuevo  Leon,  which  lay  near  the  limits  of  Rejmosa. 
This  band  became  at  last  so  numerous  and  so  terrifying  that  in 
the  extracts  taken  by  the  Commission,  mention  is  made  of  dep- 
redations committed  by  them  which  clearly  prove  their 
audacity. 

On  the  3d  of  May,  1856,  the  justice  of  the  peace  of  Rosa- 
rio, Mexico,  was  assaulted,  the  object  being  to  liberate  Leo- 
nardo Yillasana,  accused  of  robbing,  and  arrested  on  the 
charge.  They  succeeded  in  liberating  Yillasana,  and  the  band 
of  robbers  located  in  Rosario,  Texas,  were  proved  to  have  been 
the  assaulters.  From  private  information  received  through 
Martin  Washington,  a resident  of  the  left  bank  of  the  river, 
who  had  been  an  eye-witness  of  the  recurrences  related  by  him 


4 


30 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


to  the  military  commander  of  Rcynosa,  who  in  turn  gave  the 
details  to  the  judge,  it  is  known  tliat  the  attacking  party  con- 
sisted of  Jose  Maria  Zamora,  Jos^  Maria  Mora,  Juan  de  Leon, 
Desidcrio  Perales,  Marcelino  Ramirez,  Francisco  Lopez,  Ildc- 
fonso  Cano,  and  other  Indians  who  came  from  Rosario,  Texas, 
to  Rosario,  Mexico,  in  the  night,  passing  by  Washington’s 
house  for  the  purpose  of  liberating  Villasana,  and  returning  at 
about  one  o’clock  in  the  morning. 

In  the  investigation  Avhich  followed,  several  witnesses  who 
w’ere  present  at  the  attack,  testified  to  having  recognized  among 
the  party,  Jose  Maria  Zamora,  Marcelino  Ramirez,  and  some 
Indians. 

It  is  also  cliarged  that  two  years  previous  Zamora  had  re- 
moved to  the  Texan  shore  and  had  since  been  engaged  in  rob- 
bing, and  upon  his  arrest  he  stated  in  his  declaration  that  he 
lived  in  Rosario,  Texas,  in  the  house  of  Tcodoro  (Thadeus 
Rhodes). 

The  correspondence  which  upon  this  point  passed  between 
the  Judge  of  Reynosa  and  the  superior  authorities  of  Mata- 
moros,  shows  to  what  condition  the  question  had  grown  ; the 
first  declared  that  the  left  bank  of  the  Bravo  was  a harbor  for 
thieves,  and  the  security  which  they  enjoyed  was  a constant 
inducement  to  them  to  ply  their  illegal  trade  ; besides  which, 
the  depredations  committed  by  them  in  Mexican  territory  had 
reached  the  utmost  extent  that  could  be  endured.  The  District 
Police  Court  replied,  notifying  of  the  various  measures  used  for 
the  pursuit  “of  the  criminals  residing  in  the  ranche  Rosario, 
Texas,  who  boldly  came  to  this  shore  to  commit  depredations, 
and  who  had  made  themselves  notorious.”  The  militaiy  com- 
mander of  Matamoros  declared  that  he  had  spoken  to  the 
Mexican  consul  in  Brownsville  on  the  subject,  and  asked  him 
to  communicate  with  the  American  authorities  for  “ the  pur- 
pose of  devising  a measure  for  suppressing  the  robbers  who 
collected  on  the  frontier  of  the  United  States,  dishonored  that 
nation,  and  kept  the  Mexican  authorities  in  a constant  threaten- 
ing attitude. 

In  fact,  the  complaints  which  reached  the  authorities  in- 
volved questions  of  the  utmost  gravity.  On  the  4th  May, 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


31 


1856,  the  acting  judge  of  Charco  Azul,  informed  tjfe  justice  of 
Reynosa  that  the  residents  of  tlie  ranche  of  San  Lorenzo  l)ad 
manifested  how  insupportable  the  depredations  committed  and 
damages  done  their  property  had  become,  tlie  same  being 
charged  to  the  bands  on  tlie  left  bank  of  the  river,  residents  of 
Rosario,  Texas  ; that  those  people  needed  security  not  only  for 
their  property  on  tlie  field,  but  also  for  tlie  animals  used  in 
their  daily  work,  such  as  oxen,  horses,  mules,  milch  cows,  and 
even  sucking  calves  from  the  pens  have  been  transported  to  the 
other  shore. 

Things  evidentl}'^  grew  worse  instead  of  better,  for,  on  the 
2d  May,  1858,  the  magistrate  of  Rosario,  Mexico,  addressing 
the  judge  of  Reynosa,  declared  that  “ the  greatest  excitement 
was  manifested  by  the  inhabitants  on  account  of  the  bands  of 
robbers  congregated  on  the  opposite  shore,  and  no  one  felt 
secure  or  considered  it  safe  to  go  a hundred  j’ards  from  his 
house  unarmed,  with  the  constant  dread  of  being  attacked  even 
in  his  own  house,  and  of  seeing  his  family  murdered  and  his 
dwelling  reduced  to  ashes.” 

In  seeking  the  most  effectual  means  for-  relieving  the  in- 
habitants of  Rosario  from  the  evils  complained  of,  the  authori- 
ties of  Reynosa  commissioned  Pedro  Villareal,  a resident  of  La 
Mesa,  Mexico,  to  enlist  the  robbers  located  in  Rosario,  Texas,  and 
to  incorporate  them  with  the  forces  beseiging  Tampico.  Jose 
Maria  Zamora  waslieutenant  of  the  company.  lie  commenced 
the  march  to  Tampico,  but  scarcely  had  they  reached  San  Fer- 
nando, when  they  mutinied,  and  deserting  fled  rajiidly  back  to 
Rosario,  Texas,  from  whence  they  continued  their  dejiredations 
on  the  Mexican  shore.  Various  com]daints  were  laid  before 
Judge  J.  F.  George,  by  the  sufferers.  The  judge,  apparently 
an  honorable,  energetic  man,  took  measures  to  invest^ate  the 
robberies  committed  by  the  band.  The  stolen  horses  were 
found  in  the  enclosure  belonging  to  Rhodes;  the  robbers  re- 
sisted the  judge,  who  was  compelled  to  use  force,  wounding 
two  of  their  number  in  the  affray.  This  placed  Judge  George 
in  great  danger. 

On  the  15th  June,  1858,  the  justice  of  the  peace  of  Ro- 
sario, Mexico,  notified  the  judge  of  Reynosa  of  the  foregoing 


32 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


occiirrenceSj^dding  that  the  judge  asked  for  aid  to  effect  the 
apprehension  of  tlie  thieves.  At  tliis  very  time,  Judge  George 
himself  wrote  a note  to  Dr.  Ramon  L.  Jimenez,  stating  the  situa- 
tion, and  requesting  him  to  ask  the  assistance  of  the  authorities  of 
Reynosa,  and  to  raise  as  many  Americans  and  Mexicans  as  possi- 
ble to  come  to  his  relief.  A copy  of  this  letter  is  on  file  in  the 
archives  of  Reynosa.  Judge  George  says,  “ Bring  all  you  can, 
and  come  as  speedily  as  possible ; there  are  thirty  robbers  in  the 
rancho,  and  I cannot  come  out  until  I have  help.  Send  or  go  to 
thejudge  of  Reynosa,  and  ask  him  to  give  you  ten  or  twelve  men 
to  assist  me.  Something  must  be  done  quickly,  or  I will  be 
lost.” 

Such  an  occurence  proves  the  audacity  of  the  band,  and 
clearly  indicates  the  crimes  and  excesses  committed  b}'^  tliem  in 
Mexico.  Judge  Cool,  of  Edinburgh,  had  a private  understanding 
with  the  authorities  of  Reynosa,  relative  to  furnishing  the  de- 
sired aid,  and  in  compliance  therewith,  fourteen  or  fifteen  men, 
under  command  of  Capt.  Florentino  Zamora,  left  Reynosa 
for  Edinburgh.  Judge  Cool,  on  the  strength  of  this  force,  with 
the  addition  of  several  of  the  inhabitants,  went  to  Rosario, 
where  six  of  the  robbers  were  arrested  and  delivered  over  to 
the  Mexican  authorities.  Besides  these,  Thadeus  Rhodes  was 
imprisoned  as  an  accomplice  in  the  depredations  committed  by 
the  band.  The  steps  taken  by  the  Mexican  authorities,  in  lend- 
ing aid  to  Judge  Cool,  was  made  the  subject  of  complaint  by 
the  commander  of  Fort  Brown,  to  the  Governor  of  Tamanlipas. 
The  Commission  did  not  find  all  the  documents  in  relation  to 
this  incident ; but  it  is  to  be  supposed  that  the  complainant 
would  withdraw  his  charges  when  fully  informed  as  to  the  facts 
in  the  case. 

Rhodes  is  now  justice  of  the  peace  in  the  county  of  Hidal- 
go, and  it  appears  that  he  had  before  acted  in  that  capacity ; 
he  has  also  been  collector  of  customs  in  Edinburgh,  notwith- 
standing his  character  has  never  varied.  He  has  been  noto- 
rious since  the  year  ISJO  for  his  illegal  traflic  in  stolen  animals, 
and  for  keeping  in  his  employ  men  who  made  a business  of 
robbing  in  Mexico,  and  his  fame,  spite  of  his  position,  stays  by 
him  to  this  day.  There  are  cases  on  file  proving  that  the  theft 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


33 


of  animals  is  one  of  his  objects  in  life,  despite  his  social  posi- 
tion. 

The  third  case  is  that  of  Leon  and  Jose  'Estapii,  the  first  of 
whom  has  been  sheriff  until  last  year,  and  the  second  a col- 
lector in  the  county  of  Hidalgo.  Both  have  at  their  disposal  a 
band  of  thieves,  to  which  belong  the  three  brothers,  Tijerinas. 
Tiiey  own  the  rancho  Grangeno,  Texas,  where  the  Tijerinas 
live.  In  this  ranche  is  an  enclosure  known  by  the  name  of 
Sabinito,  bounded  on  one  side  by  the  river,  and  on  the  other  by 
an  inlet.  To  this  enclosure  the  horses  stolen  in  Mexico  for  the 
Estapa’s  are  taken,  and  here  the  droves  are  collected  and  kept 
until  ready  to  be  driven  into  the  interior  of  the  State  of  Texas. 

The  examination  of  these  questions  gives  rise  to  various  con- 
clusions. 

1st.  A general  rule  may  be  established,  although  admitting 
of  several  exceptions,  that  the  originators  and  instigators  of 
robbery  in  Mexico  are  Americans  coming  from  Texas ; that 
the  agents  and  employees  are  Mexicans  naturalized  in  the  Unit- 
ed States  as  residents  of  Texas,  and  under  the  jurisdiction  of 
that  State,  and  others  residing  in  Mexico,  or  having  no  fixed 
place  of  abode. 

2d.  A no  less  general  rule  may  be  formed  that  Texas  is  the 
place  that  receives,  and  has  always  received,  the  benefit  of  the 
robberies  committed  in  Mexico  ; there  without  the  slightest 
scruple,  the  dealers  in  horses  receive  the  stolen  goods,  purchas- 
ing the  animals  at  reduced  rates. 


IV. 

The  various  cases  cited  by  the  Commission  as  examples, 
being  the  most  authenticated,  and  the  numerous  others  filed  in 
the  archives,  prove  by  the  documentary  evidence  the  existing 
state  of  disorganization  on  the  United  States  frontier ; and  the 
inefiicacy  of  the  laws  and  the  inability  of  the  authorities  to 
meet  the  necessities  of  the  case. 

It  does  not  require  much  exertion  to  understand  the  reason 

3 


34: 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


of  this,  \vhe)i  it  is  recollected  that  a sheriff  like  Estapa  or  a 
judge  like  Rhodes  charged  ■with  the  carrying  out  of  the  laws 
and  the  pursuit  of  criminals,  are  themselves  the  chief  insti- 
gators, abetting  the  criminals  and  enjoying  the  proceeds  of  the 
crime ; but  the  question  has  a still  more  general  bearing,  for 
when  during  a long  series  of  years  similar  acts  have  been  com- 
mitted in  different  places,  without  the  proper  measures  for 
repressing  the  criminals  having  been  resorted  to,  it  is  not  to  be 
presumed  that  the  cause  exists  in  the  simply  accidental  com- 
plicity of  a piiblic  functionary.  This  might  be  a motive,  as 
lending  facilities  and  security  to  criminals,  but  it  is  certainly 
not  the  only  and  primary  incentive  of  the  robbers. 

It  has  become  the  common  opinion  of  the  proprietors  on  the 
Mexican  frontier,  that  it  is  useless  to  appeal  to  the  authorities 
in  Texas  for  justice  against  the  thieves  and  traders  in  stolen 
animals.  Their  complaints  are  met  with  innumerable  diffi- 
culties, amongst  others  the  cost  of  prosecution,  which  often 
amounts  to  more  than  the  value  of  the  animals  claimed. 
Besides,  there  is  attributed  to  several  of  the  Texan  authorities, 
along  the  line  of  the  Bravo,  a spirit  of  protection  to  the  robbers 
who  commit  depredations  in  Mexico,  and  to  the  generality  of 
them  the  utmost  indifference. 

In  order  to  characterize  this  phase  of  the  question,  it  wdll 
be  necessary  to  investigate  the  deficiencies  and  defects  in  the 
legislation  upon  this  subject,  and  the  course  that  has  been 
pursued  by  the  authorities  of  Texas ; or  in  other  words,  to 
establish  the  amount  of  responsibility  to  be  assumed  by  the 
authorities,  in  default  of  proper  legislation,  also  the  point  at 
which  responsibility  commences  through  neglect,  toleration  or 
assistance.  So  combined  are  these  two  classes  of  responsibility, 
that  it  will  be  necessary  to  analyze  them  simultaneously. 

On  the  28th  August,  1856,  the  legislature  of  Texas  passed 
two  very  important  laws.  In  the  first  it  w’as  ordered,  that  if 
any  person  committed  a crime  in  a foreign  country.  State  or 
territory,  that  if  committed  in  Texas  would  be  classed  as  rob- 
bery, theft  or  the  criminal  harboring  of  stolen  goods,  and 
brought  said  goods  into  the  State,  said  person  should  be  pun- 
ished in  Texas,  as  if  the  crime  had  been  committed  in  that 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


35 


State ; always  provided  however,  that  by  the  laws  of  the  State 
or  Territory  in  which  the  crime  had  actually  been  committed, 
it  came  under  the  head  of  robbery,  theft  or  the  receiving  of 
stolen  goods  (Articles  21:38,  2439,  Paschall’s  Digest). 

The  second  provided  that  any  conspiracy  formed  in  Texas, 
for  the  purpose  of  committing  crimes  in  any  other  State  or 
Territory  of  the  Union, _ or  in  foreign  territory,  should  be  pun- 
ished in  the  same  manner  as  if  their  object  had  been  to  com- 
mit the  crime  in  Texas  (Articles  2448,  to  2453,  Paschall’s  Di- 
gest). 

These  laws  are  remarkable  for  the  spirit  of  honor  which 
characterizes  them.  They  were  passed  at  a time  when  the  Mex- 
ican frontier  was  in  a high  state  of  excitement,  on  account  of 
the  threatening  attitude  of  the  bands  of  robbers,  which  had 
been  organized  during  the  first  six  months  of  1856,  on  the 
frontier  of  the  United  States,  crossing  the  river  to  commit  rob- 
beries and  assassinations. 

The  Commission  believes  that  the  strict  enforcement  of  both 
of  these  laws,  would  have  restrained  to  a great  extent,  the  dep- 
redations committed  on  the  Mexican  line ; unfortunately,  how- 
ever, It  seems  that  no  great  efibrt  was  made  to  apply  them. 

To  fully  inform  themselves  as  to  the  facts  in  relation  thereto, 
the  Commission  examined  the  statistics  of  the  criminal  court 
of  the  county  of  Cameron,  Texas.  The  facts  referring  to  the 
period,  from  1848  to  1863,  relative  to  criminal  cases,  are  miss- 
ing, on  account  of  the  destruction  of  a part  of  the  archives  dur- 
ing the  Confederate  war.  There  remain  only  those  cases  which 
were  “ Dismissed  without  trial,”  and  those  held  open  pending 
the  arrest  of  the  culprits,  and  even  of  these  there  is  no  surety 
that  they  are  complete.  There  seemed  to  be  pending  three 
cases  of  accusations  against  persons  for  removing  property 
belonging  to  the  State,  and  none  for  conspiracy  in  Texas  for 
the  perpetration  of  crime  in  Mexico. 

From  1863  to  1866,  there  was  no  grand  jury  called  in  the 
county  of  Cameron.  From  the  spring  of  1866  to  December, 
1872,  there  have  been  four  criminal  cases  for  exporting  prop- 
erty stolen  from  the  State  of  Texas,  and  none  for  conspiracy  to 
commit  crimes  in  Mexico.  Of  these  four  cases,  one  culprit 


36 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


alone  was  condemned,  two  found  “ not  guilty,”  and  the  fourth 
“ dismissed  without  trial.” 

Although  the  data  up  to  1863  are  very  incomplete,  the  bulk 
of  evidence  goes  to  show  that  the  laws  passed  by  the  legisla- 
ture of  Texas  in  1856  have  proved  ineffectual  on  account  of 
their  non-application.  There  is  abundant  information  that  dur- 
ing the  past  few  years — the  statistical  record  of  which  is  com- 
plete— the  stealing  of  animals  in  Mexico  for  Texas  has  contin- 
ued undiminished  under  all  its  forms,  and  it  is  not  reasonable 
to  suppose  that,  whilst  robberies  are  so  frequent,  the  laws  have 
been  properly  enforced ; nor  does  the  trial  of  four  cases,  in 
three  of  which  the  culprits  were  acquitted,  prove  the  efficacy 
of  the  laws. 

At  certain  periods  of  the  year,  traders  from  the  interior  of 
Texas  come  to  the  river  to  collect  droves  of  horses  stolen  from 
Mexico,  and  up  to  the  present  they  have  continued  their  illegal 
traffic  without  molestation.  The  coming  of  the  traders,  their 
arrival  and  their  manner  of  dealing,  as  well  as  the  places  where 
the  horses  are  congregated,  are  facts  well  known,  carrying  with 
them  a certain  phase  of  notoriety  ; so  that  it  is  not  possible  to 
attribute  to  the  ignorance  of  the  authorities  their  neglect  to  en- 
force the  laws  and  put  a bar  to  these  crimes,  by  restraining  the 
robberies  committed  on  the  Texan  line,  under  this  guise,  to  the 
prejudice  of  Mexico. 

An  equally  well  known  and  notorious  fact  is  the  regular 
organization  of  robbers  who  have  existed,  and  still  remain,  on 
the  left  bank  of  the  Bravo,  engaging  in  robberies  in  Mexico, 
without  any  measures  having  been  employed  to  restrain  them. 
The  only  case  to  the  contrary,  of  which  the  Commission  has 
cognizance,  is  the  arrest  of  Thadeus  Khodes,  in  1858,  and  from 
information  given  at  that  trial,  it  is  manifest  that  the  prosecu- 
tion of  Rhodes  by  the  authorities  of  the  county  of  Hidalgo 
was  not  so  much  for  the  depredations  of  which  he  was  con- 
victed, but  on  account  of  the  threats  made  by  the  band  against 
Judge  George.  After  all,  these  proceedings  amounted  to  noth- 
ing in  the  end  ; for  soon  after  his  arrest  Rhodes  managed  to 
escape,  and  since  then  he  has  not  been  disturbed. 

In  fact,  there  never  has  been  a single  voluntary  prosecution 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


37 


on  the  part  of  the  authorities  against  the  originators  of  robberies 
committed  in  Mexico  and  planned  in  [United  States  territory, 
nor  of  those  who  had  fled  thither  with  the  products  of  their 
rapacity,  much  less  against  those  who  shamelessly  trade  in 
stolen  goods.  On  the  contrary,  the  instigators  and  their  tools 
can  dedicate  themselves  with  all  impunity  to  their  criminal 
traffic,  fearless  of  any  practical  intervention  on  the  part  of  the 
authorities,  unless,  indeed,  some  complainant  asks  for  redress 
and  support,  which  support,  if  extended,  is  generally  accom- 
panied by  circumstances  of  unusual  difficulty  for  any  action  in 
individual  cases. 

The  Commission  docs  not  refer  to  cases  of  corrupt  function- 
aries who  give  aid  to  criminals;  it  is  evident  that  in  such  cases 
there  would  be  no  hope  for  justice;  but  the  Commission  has 
neither  data  nor  reason  to  believe  this  condition  of  things  to  be 
general.  The  principal  difficulty,  and  the  one  that  has  proved 
the  greatest  obstacle  in  the  way  of  redress  through  the  courts, 
and  on  which  the  testimony  is  esjiecially  explicit,  is  the  exces- 
sive expense  attendant  on  the  intervention  of  the  public  authori- 
ties in  Texas. 

This  expense  commences  from  the  moment  that  the  authori- 
ties render  aid  for  the  pursuit  of  the  robbers  and  the  recovery 
of  the  stolen  property.  The  sheriff  or  agent  of  tlie  government, 
who  orders  the  pursuit,  becomes  entitled  to  a fee,  the  payment 
of  which  the  complainant  is  compelled  to  make.  If  the  stolen 
property  is  found,  a judgment  is  necessai’y,  and  the  employment 
of  a lawyer  to  present  the  case  naturally  follows,  on  account  of 
the  lack  of  simplicity  in  the  proceedings  ; besides  which,  every 
employee  of  the  court  expects  and  must  be  paid  a fee.  From 
this  it  will  be  seen  that  the  expenses  necessary  to  the  recovery 
in  Texas  of  property  stolen  from  Mexico  are  so  enormous  that 
they  frequently  surpass  in  amount  the  value  of  the  property 
claimed  ; and  consequently,  in  the  majority  of  cases,  the  claim- 
ants, rather  than  solicit  the  action  of  the  public  authorities,  pre- 
fer to  lose  their  property. 

Independent  of  this  evidence,  there  are  several  documents  in 
which  mention  is  made  of  this  difficulty.  In  a charge  made  on 
24:th  June,  1852,  against  Cosine,  Roman  and  Jose  Maria  Cortes, 


38 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


as  cattle  thieves,  one  of  the  witnesses,  Manuel  Perez,  testified 
to  having  redeemed  two  liorses  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Bravo 
by  payment  of  four  dollars  to  the  Cortes.  Another  witness, 
(Jose  Maria  Cardenas),  declared  that  the  Cortes  had  stolen  from 
him  two  mules,  one  of  which  was  sold  on  the  left  bank  of  the 
Bravo  by  Jose  Maria  Cortes,  who  afterwards  stole  the  animal 
from  the  purchaser  and  brought  it  to  the  witness  for  a given 
sum ; that  the  Cortes  committed  a double  robbery,  carrying  the 
animals  first  from  the  Mexican  to  the  Texan  shore  of  the  river, 
disposing  of  them,  and  afterwards  stealing  them  from  the  pur- 
chasers fora  reward  offered  by  the  owner.  That  in  order  to 
obtain  their  animals  the  owners  were  obliged  to  pay  the  ransom, 
it  being  almost  impossible  to  effect  their  recovery  through  legal 
measures. 

In  still  another  document,  dated  May  -fth,  1856,  the  resi- 
dents of  the  San  Lorenzo  ranche  complained  through  the  justice 
of  the  peace  to  the  authorities  of  Reynosa,  of  the  robberies 
committed  by  the  bands  of  robbers  from  Rosario,  Texas, 
adding  that  they  were  hopeless  of  redress,  as  the  authorities  of 
Hidalgo,  Texas,  apparently  wished  them  to  believe  that  they 
would  carefully  attend  to  their  claims,  whilst  they  felt  sure 
from  past  experience  that  the  authorities  were  wilfully  mislead- 
ing them  so  as  to  effect  their  ruin. 

The  two  first  documents  referred  to  the  authorities  of  the 
county  of  Hidalgo,  Texas ; that  is,  to  the  county  in  which 
Thadeus  Rhodes  is  justice  of  the  peace,  and  in  which  Leon 
Estapa  has  just  been  made  sheriff.  In  these  they  accuse  the 
above  named  officers  of  giving  protection  to  thieves  and  of  pre- 
venting the  owners  of  stolen  animals  from  recovering  their 
property.  In  the  conclusion  of  both  documents  suspicion  is 
hinted  at  not  only  these  acts  of  bad  faith,  but  of  a spirit  of 
rapacity,  exercised  in  prejudice  of  the  Mexican  proprietors 
who  appear  before  those  authorities  to  reclaim  their  property. 

This  aspect  of  the  frontier  question  called  the  profound 
attention  of  the  Commission.  It  presented  the  fact  that  cor- 
rupt public  functionaries  in  Texas  protected  the  thieves  and 
abetted  stealing  in  Mexico.  But  still  more  worthy  of  consider- 
ation was  the  combination  of  circumstances  which  contributed 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


39 


to  the  development  and  existence  of  the  crime.  This  could 
not  be  repressed  except  by  the  vigorous  and  energetic  enforce- 
ment of  the  laws  by  the  public  officers  ; and  in  failure  of  this, 
had  not  ready  facilities  been  afforded  and  protection  secured  to 
the  robbers,  corruption  to  such  an  extent  would  not  have 
existed,  and  the  thieves,  in  place  of  assistance,  would  have  been 
met  on  all  sides  by  insurmountable  barriers. 

Since  1848  to  the  present,  for  the  space  of  twenty-five 
years,  there  has  existed  in  Texas  the  trade  in  goods  stolen  in 
Mexico,  without  the  attempt  at  interference  on  the  part  of  the 
authorities  to  punish  the  offenders  of  law  in  this  illicit  traffic. 
During  this  same  period  the  collection  of  droves  of  animals  at 
certain  periods  of  each  year  along  the  whole  American  line  has 
been  permitted,  with  the  knowledge  that  these  animals  were 
stolen  from  Mexican  territory.  Finally,  there  had  been  toler- 
ated the  public  organization  of  bands  of  robbers,  who  under 
the  patronage  of  influential  persons  have  gone  to  Mexico  to 
steal  for  the  benefit  of  their  patrons. 

The  neglect  of  the  public  authorities  is  shown  by  the  lack 
of  a police  force  and  other  preventive  measures  to  impede  the 
combinations  of  the  robbers  in  Texas  and  the  conspiracies 
entered  into  for  the  perpetration  of  crime  in  Mexico,  and  that 
out  of  two  laws,  the  upright  spirit  of  which  is  recognized 
by  the  Commission,  they  have  been  unable  or  unwilling  to 
apply  them  eft’ectually,  or  to  have  used  some  active  means  for 
rescuing  the  property  after  the  committal  of  the  crime. 

Without  mentioning  the  denials  of  justice  to  Mexican  pro- 
prietors who  appeal  to  the  tribunals  of  Texas,  the  fact  that  the 
complainants  are  obliged  to  pay  the  officials  charged  with  the 
pursuit  of  the  robbers  and  the  stolen  property,  as  well  as  all 
the  costs  of  the  court,  amounting  very  often  to  a sum  equal  or 
greater  than  the  value  of  the  thing  reclaimed,  is  sufficient 
reason  why  the  aggrieved  should  prefer  to  lose  his  property ; 
and  thus  the  authorities  deprive  themselves  of  so  certain  a 
means  of  investigating  the  crimes  of  the  delinquents  as  that 
afforded  by  the  prosecution  of  private  individuals. 

The  Commission  esteems  it  best  to  mention  two  consider- 


40 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


ations  as  regards  the  general  character  of  the  responsibility  of 
the  authorities  on  the  Avestern  shore  of  the  Bravo. 

1st.  They  have  not  used  all  the  efforts  in  their  power  to 
prevent  the  schemes  projected  in  Texas  for  robberies  in  Mexico, 
nor  taken  measures  to  prevent  the  stolen  objects  from  being 
introduced  into  United  States  territory,  where  the  thieves  find 
an  immediate  and  easy  market. 

2d.  Not  having  complied  with  this  duty,  they  fail  to  per- 
form another,  by  collecting  fees  from  Mexican  proprietors  for 
cooperating  with  those  who  have  crossed  into  Texas  to  recover 
their  propert}*. 

In  respect  to  the  last,  the  Commission  recognizes  the  right 
of  the  State  of  Texas  to  levy  contributions  on  those  Avho  seek 
the  assistance  of  the  public  authorities  for  the  recovery  of  stolen 
goods,  and  on  those  who  appeal  through  the  tribunals  for  jus- 
tice, whether  these  charges  are  in  the  form  of  fees  paid  to  em- 
ployees of  the  court  and  police  force,  or  are  paid  in  any  other 
manner.  But  these  expenses  ought  not,  under  any  circum- 
stances, accrue  to  foreign  owmers  wdio  would  be  enabled  to  re- 
main in  the  tranquil  enjoyment  of  their  property,  if  the  organ- 
ization of  bands  of  robbers  was  not  permitted  in  a neighboring 
country,  from  Avhence  these  marauders  come  to  ravage  their 
properties ; or,  if  there  was  not  in  that  coiintry  a peaceful 
security  for  the  proceeds  of  theft,  even  if  these  organizations 
did  not  exist. 

Before  the  robbery  is  committed,  the  goods  are  beyond  the 
jurisdiction  of  the  authorities  of  the  State  of  Texas,  and  the 
proprietors  do  not  willingly  submit  them  to  their  control.  A 
criminal  act  which  the  authorities  were  in  duty  bound  to  have 
prevented  is  Avhat  gives  them  cognizance  of  the  claims  advanced 
by  foreign  proprietors.  The  appeal,  therefore,  of  these  proprie- 
tors to  the  Texan  tribunals  is  not  a voluutary  submission  to  the 
laws  of  the  State,  but  an  appeal  for  redress  for  wrongs  which 
the  authorities  of  the  western  bank  of  the  Bravo  had  it  in  their 
power  to  have  prevented.  If  they  have  been  inefficient  or 
neglectful  of  their  duty,  and  if  tlirough  their  inefficience  or 
neglect  foreign  proprietors  have  been  made  to  suffer,  and  have 
been  compelled  to  appear  before  the  tribunals  and  police  courta 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


41 


of  Texas  for  redress,  and  ask  of  these  authorities  the  aid  neces- 
sary for  righting  their  wrongs,  this  aid,  the  necessity  of  which 
having  been  brought  about  by  their  own  neglect,  should  be 
cordially  rendered  by  the  authorities,  and  every  possible  means 
furnished  to  recover  the  property  stolen  from  a foreign  coun- 
try, especially  under  the  conditions  relating  to  the  protection  of 
the  Mexican  frontier  established  since  1848.  This  second  obli- 
gation on  the  part  of  the  authorities  is  as  clear  and  binding  as 
the  first ; it  is  not  hampered  by  any  needless  conditions,  nor  is 
it  left  to  the  judgment  of  the  Texan  authorities  to  comply  or 
not  with  the  letter  and  spirit  of  the  law.  They  are  compelled 
to  perform  their  duty,  and  no  opening  is  left  them  for  hedging 
the  law  round  Avith  such  innumerable  barriers,  under  the  guise 
of  fees,  as  to  preclude  the  appeal  for  justice.  This  obligation 
not  only  proceeds  from  the  right  of  justice  conferred  on  Mexi- 
cans under  the  laws  of  Texas,  but  is  made  imperative  by  an- 
other obligation,  by  which  the  authorities  were  bound  to  re- 
press hostile  proceedings  on  the  United  States  frontier  against 
Mexico,  and  to  redress  the  damages  done,  when  these  damages 
arose  through  their  neglect,  and  to  use  all  the  means  in  their 
power  to  prevent  the  evil.  The  appeal  therefor?  made  to  the 
Texan  authorities  against  those  who  are  benefiting  by  prop- 
erty stolen  in  Mexico,  is  simply  a reparation  asked,  and  such 
reparation  should  not  be  subject  to  any  litigation  whatsoever. 


Y. 

The  cjuestion  of  robbery  in  Texas  is  one  of  the  most  com- 
plicated in  this  investigation,  embracing  as  it  does,  so  many  de- 
tails, all  of  which  deserve  attention,  in  order  that  the  case  may 
be  fully  comprehended. 

The  Commission,  believing  it  necessary  to  inquire  into  the 
condition  of  the  cattle  trade  in  Texas,  having  been  informed 
that  the  cattle  of  the  region  lying  between  the  Rio  Bravo  and 
the  Nueces  had  augmented  considerably  during  the  Confeder- 
ate war  for  lack  of  a market,  and  that  the  evidence  of  the  ex- 


42 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


perts  shows  that  the  number  of  cattle  have  fallen  off  from  one- 
third  to  one-fourtli  what  it  was  in  1866,  under  the  circum- 
stances, too,  that  there  has  been  no  sickness  amongst  them,  nor 
drought,  nor  unusual  sales,  which  might  explain  this  diminu- 
tion. 

1st.  We  notice  that  this  fact  is  set  forth  to  lead  to  the  in- 
ference that  this  result  has  been  brought  about  by  gangs  of 
thieves  organized  in  Mexico. 

2d.  If  we  take  into  account,  as  has  also  been  suggested, 
that  the  cattle  beyond  the  Nueces,  on  account  of  the  cold,  mi- 
grate to  the  south,  crossing  the  river  Nueces,  and  take  refuge 
in  the  valley  of  the  Rio  Bravo,  and, 

3d.  Then  we  must  conclude  that  cattle  stealing  in  Texas 
for  the  benefit  of  Mexico  has  not  been  confined  to  a special  lo- 
cality, but  has  affected  the  cattle  over  a great  portion  of  the 
State. 

This  result  does  not  only  exist  in  theory,  for  in  the  sched- 
xde  of  claims  presented  for  stolen  cattle,  there  appear  amongst 
the  claimants  the  proprietors  of  the  counties  of  Refugio,  San 
Patricio,  Goliad,  Lavaca,  and  Bee,  which  are  on  the  other  side 
of  the  Nueces. 

The  Commission  will  express  its  opinion,  relative  to  the 
counties  lying  between  the  Bravo  and  the  Nueces  when  they 
treat  of  the  claims  presented  against  Mexico,  as  regards  the 
disposal  of  the  general  question,  and  from  the  condition  of  the 
cattle  trade  in  that  State,  the  Commission  has  not  antecedents 
sufficient  to  enable  it  to  judge  whether  or  not  there  has  been 
any  diminution  of  cattle  in  Texas.  Witnesses  were  not  exam- 
ined, for  the  reason  that  tlie  solution  of  the  question  may  be  found 
in  the  official  statistics  relating  to  the  payment  of  duties.  With-  v 
out  affirming,  therefore,  anytliiug  relative  to  this  matter,  the 
Commission  will  limit  itself  to  saying  that  the  cattle  in  Texas 
have  suffered  some  reduction,  which  may  be  accounted  for, 
independent  of  any  connection  with  the  cattle  thieves  in  Mexico. 

The  commercial  statistics  of  Texas,  copied  from  the  Texas 
Almanac  for  1873,  gives  the  following  results  : 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION.  4?.3 

Horned  cattle  exported  to  Galveston  and  Indianola  during 
e period  from 

Sept.  1st  1871,  to  Sept.  1st  1872 58,078 

From  Saluria,  during  the  same  period 2-1,461 

F rom  Corpus 3, 1 80 

Transported  to  Kansas  from  Caldwell,  from  May  1st 

toKov.  11th  1872 349,275 


434,994 

This  table  does  not  include  the  cattle  exported  from  other 
ports  of  Texas,  nor  that  taken  to  the  northern  portion  of  the 
State,  not  passing  through  Caldwell. 

The  statistics  show  for  the  same  period,  i.  e.  from  Septem- 
ber 1,  1871,  to  August  31,  1872,  the  commerce  in  raw  hides  to 
be,  as  follows : 


Exported  from  Galveston 407,931 

“ Corpus  Christi 85,297 

“ “ Eockport 10,240 

“ Aranzas 31,720 

“ Saluria 330,875 


Total 866,063 


In  this  is  not  included  the  hides  exported  from  other  ports, 
nor  those  taken  from  Shreveport  and  other  points  of  the  Colorado 
river,  nor  those  employed  in  manufactures  in  the  State,  nor  yet 
the  excess  lying  at  the  ports,  which  have  not  been  exported  ; thus, 
for  example,  the  number  of  hides  received  in  Galveston,  ex- 
ceeds the  number  of  those  exported  during  the  above  named 
period,  by  (4,902)  four  thousand,  nine  hundred  and  two ; but 
even  if  we  accept  the  previously  mentioned  figures,  they  will 
be  sufficient  to  estimate  the  great  number  of  cattle  consumed 
and  exported. 

These  exportations  have  not  been  habitual,  nor  is  there  any 
notice  of  them  previous  to  1866,  as  shown  by  the  statistics. 

Taking  for  example  the  commerce  of  the  port  of  Galveston, 
we  arrive  at  positive  conclusions.  In  the  mention  made  of  the 
traffic  of  the  above  named  port,  published  in  the  Texas 
Almanac  for  1869  (pages  179-180),  are  contained  the  two  fol- 
lowing paragraphs  : 


44 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


“ Cattle. — In  no  year  previous  (1868)  has  there  been  so 
much  activity  in  the  exportation  of  cattle  from  this  port,  as  at 
present,  owing  to  large  herds  collected,  the  great  facility  for 
embarkation,  and  the  urgent  necessity  of  the  population,  com- 
pelling tliem  to  use  every  means  possible  to  avail  themselves  of 
the  resources  within  their  I’each.  There  have  been  also  expor- 
tations from  all  the  other  ports,  and  those  transported  by  land 
have  reached  an  unprecedented  number.” 

“ Cattle  Hides. — The  exportations  from  this  port  for  the 
year  amount  to  205,000  hides,  and  almost  as  many  have  been 
transported  from  the  other  ports  of  the  State,  showing  an 
increase  of  at  least  fifty  per  cent,  over  any  previous  year.” 

It  is  not  too  much  to  sa}'^  that  since  1868  the  exportation  of 
cattle  and  hides  from  Texas  has  assumed  unusual  activity,  and 
has  continued  increasing,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  following 
notice  relative  to  the  port  of  Galveston  (Texas  Almanac,  1873, 
page  39)  : 

Hides  exported  from  September  1,  1867,  to  August 


31,  1868 205,000 

From  1868  to  1869 294,892 

From  1869  to  1870 332,769 

From  1870  to  1871 371,925 

From  1871  to  1872 407,931 


This  unparalleled  development  of  tlie  commerce  has  not 
been  peculiar  to  Galveston,  but  general  to  all  tlie  ports  of 
Texas,  and  is  established  by  the  fact  that  the  general  expor- 
tation of  hides  whicli  took  place  from  1867  to  1868  were 
calculated  at  four  hundred  thousand,  and  considered  as  an  ex- 
traordinary number,  exceeding  that  of  any  previous  year. 
This  is  less  than  half  the  number  of  hides  exported  in  the 
period  from  1871  to  1872.  In  other  words,  the  exportation  of 
cattle  hides  in  any  year  prior  to  1867  never  exceeded  200,000, 
so  that  when,  in  1868  and  each  of  the  succeeding  years,  the 
number  increased  until  it  showed  the  large  figure  of  eight 
hundred  and  seventy-six  thousand  and  seventy-three,  it  pro- 
duced tlie  plain  conviction  that  since  1868  the  sales  had  been 
unusual  and  the  numbers  constantly  increasing. 

In  proportion  to  tlie  number  of  cattle  consumed,  the  pro- 
duction, has  been  alarmingly  decreasing,  owing  to  the  prolonged 
droughts  suffered  for  the  past  three  years.  A great  many  wit- 
nesses, proprietors  of  farms  in  Texas,  especially  in  the  region 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


45 


between  the  Eio  Bravo  and  the  Nueces,  where  it  is  insisted 
that  no  droughts  have  occurred,  laborers  working  and  travel- 
ers passing  through  that  portion  all  testify  with  singular  uni- 
formitj  upon  this  point,  and  give  the  drought  as  a cause  for 
the  mortality  amongst  the  cattle. 

The  lack  of  rain  contributes  in  two  different  ways  to  pro- 
duce this  result.  The  immediate  consequence  is  the  drying  up 
of  the  springs  and  other  watering-places.  As  soon  as  the 
water  is  exhausted  the  cattle  begin  to  perish,  especially  if  the 
herds  are  large.  Although  there  are  places  where  these  springs 
never  dry,  and  where  water  is  plentiful,  the  pastures  become 
exhausted,  and  the  cattle  fall  off  in  flesh,  even  though  they 
may  not  die.  The  result  of  this  is  that  during  the  winter,  al- 
though it  may  have  rained  previously,  the  cattle  are  unable  to 
resist  the  great  cold,  and  quickly  perish,  so  that  the  lack  of 
pasture  is  felt  by  causing  other  troubles,  to  which  the  cattle 
become  a prey. 

From  year  to  year  the  evil  has  increased,  the  drought  hav- 
ing continued  three  years,  the  effects  caused  by  the  scarcity  of 
water  in  one  year  is  again  repeated,  falling  upon  cattle  not  yet 
recovered  from  the  last  year’s  suffering. 

Thus  it  is  that  after  three  years’  drought,  so  great  a number 
of  cattle  perished  during  the  last  winter  that  some  entire  herds 
were  swept  away,  and  all  are  more  or  less  diminished. 

The  following  are  extracts  from  various  newspapers  of 
Texas  upon  this  subject : 

‘‘  This  year  we  have  had  no  rain  of  any  consequence 
in  Santa  Gertrudisand  Laureles  (Nueces)  ; the  neighborhood  of 
Oakville,  is  also  suffering  from  the  drought.” — The  Daily 
Danchero,  Brownsville,  June  13th,  1872. 

“A  letter  received  from  a ranche  in  the  county  of  Nueces 
declares  that  the  horned  cattle,  as  well  as  the  horses,  are  dying 
by  the  thousands  on  account  of  the  lack  of  pasture.” — The  Sen- 
tinel, Brownsville,  January  14th,  1873. 

“ It  is  a fact  worthy  of  notice,  and  invites  reflection,  that  in 
reality  there  is  not  in  the  county  of  Bejar  a tenth  part  of  the 
number  of  cattle  that  there  was  in  1860.  Judge  Noonan  rode 
to  Castroville  one  day  last  week,  and  returned  the  day  follow- 
ing. During  the  trip  he  saw  but  two  oxen  ; notwithstanding 


46 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


the  pasture  begins  to  look  green  again.” — San  Antonio  Ex- 
press^ February  2Ttb,  1873. 

“ The  cattle  * * * is  beginning  to  fall  off,  and  has  become 
so  scarce  that  it  makes  tbe  trade  precarious  and  not  very  profit- 
able. It  is  a notorious  fact  that  the  native  pasturage  is  disap- 
pearing, and  -without  the  care  and  cultivation  of  art,  four  of  five 
acres  of  summer  pasturage  will  be  utterly  useless.” — From  the 
same  paper. 

“ The  proprietors  of  cattle  in  "Western  Texas  are  losing  their 
herds  at  the  rate  of  twenty  per  cent.,  owing  to  the  disastrous 
results  of  the  past  winter.” — Indiana  Bulletin. 

“ A stranger  can  form  some  idea  of  the  cattle  which  per- 
ished during  the  past  winter,  when  from  ten  to  thirty  cargoes 
of  hides  leave  our  city  daily  for  the  coast,  and  the  same  may  be 
said  of  twenty  other  towns,  north  and  south  of  us.” — San 
Antonio  Weekly  Herald.^  March  8,  1873. 

“ In  reality  there  are  very  few  cattle  within  the  radius  of  a 
hundred  miles  of  San  Antonio ; the  pasture  has  been  greatly 
injured  by  being  constantly  trodden,  and  that  which  remains  is 
being  devoured  by  grasshoppers.  It  is  useless,  and  worse  than 
useless,  it  is  criminal  to  attempt  to  disguise  for  a longer  time 
the  fact  that  this  region  of  the  country  is  in  a transition  state ; 
the  abundance  of  nature  is  fast  giving  way  to  the  exigences  of 
civilization.  The  past  mode  of  raising  cattle  is  impossible, 
with  any  hope  of  future  profit.” — San  Antonio  Weekly  Ex- 
press., March  27,  1873. 

Tlie  press  confirms  the  evidence  of  the  majority  of  the  wit- 
nesses, as  will  be  noticed  especially  by  the  conclusion  arrived 
at  by  the  last  named  paper,  and  which  goes  to  show  that  this 
condition  of  things  has  not  been  sudden,  but  that  the  country 
has  been  slowly  deteriorating  through  a number  of  years. 

The  droughts  have  entailed  a double  injury,  not  only  caus- 
ing the  death  of  the  cattle,  but  impeding  their  reproduction, 
by  reason  of  their  meagreness  and  debility,  caused  by  lack  of 
sufficient  sustenance.  Thus  the  constant  removal  of  cattle  to 
Kansas  and  other  places  for  consumption,  the  mortality  among 
them,  and  the  dearth  of  reproduction  will  serve  to  explain  the 
decrease  perceived  in  the  cattle  in  Texas,  if  such  has  really 
occurred,  without  recurring  to  so  extraordinary  a cause  as  that 
of  robberies,  committed  by  gangs  of  thieves  organized  in 
Mexico. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


47 


VI. 

Cattle  stealing  in  Texas  has  taken  divers  forms,  which  will 
be  readily  understood  by  consulting  the  laws  of  that  State,  as 
said  laws  constitute  one  of  the  necessary  elements  in  order  to 
thoroughly  understand  the  nature  of  the  question  relating 
thereto. 

In  said  laws  we  can  perceive  the  origin  of  the  mischief,  the 
different  forms  which  it  has  taken  in  the  course  of  time,  its 
progress  and  development. 

The  Commission  could  not,  therefore,  disregard  such  an  in- 
valuable source  of  information. 

On  the  5th  of  September,  1850,  the  first  law  of  which  this 
Commission  has  any  knowledge  was  issued. 

The  object  of  this  law  was  to  regulate  the  shipping  and 
slaughtering  of  cattle,  and  this  of  itself  indicated  that  at  that 
time  cattle  stealing  was  committed  either  to  ship  the  herds  or 
to  dispose  of  them  at  the  slaughtering  houses.  Said  law 
adopted  easy  means  to  find  out  the  robberies  committed,  by 
ordering  that  all  the  captains  of  vessels,  as  also  the  owners  of 
slaughtering  houses,  should  keep  a registry,  wherein  entries 
should  be  made  of  the  marks  and  brands  of  the  cattle,  giving 
a general  description  of  the  heads,  their  age,  counties,  where 
the  same  came  from,  and  the  names  of  the  sellers. 

This  registry  was  to  be  communicated  to  the  court  clerk  of 
the  county  in  which  the  cattle  were  to  be  shipped  or  slaugh- 
tered, and  said  clerk  was  to  keep  another  registry,  which  might 
be  examined  by  any  interested  party  (Oldham  or  "W  bite’s  Di- 
gest, Art.  1866). 

During  a long  time  no  order  whatever  was  passed,  and  this 
cannot  seem  strange  if  we  bear  in  mind  that  prior  to  1848  cat- 
tle were  not  abundant  in  Texas.  Later,  when  the  cattle 
increased,  the  crime  of  cattle  stealing  began  to  appear,  and 
thence  the  necessity  of  a more  extended  legislation. 

The  law  of  August  the  28th,  1856,  was  passed  in  order  to 
meet  the  arising  exigences.  Said  law  established  a pecuniary 
punishment  against  all  persons  who  should  brand  any  herds  of 


48 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


cattle,  if  they  are  horses,  mules,  neat  cattle,  or  sheep,  without 
the  consent  of  the  owners  (Paschall’s  Digest,  Art.  1411).  A 
similar  punishment  was  decreed  against  all  those  who  should 
appropriate  to  themselves  the  skins  of  any  heads  of  cattle,  or 
any  part  thereof,  against  the  will,  of  the  owners  of  the  same 
(Art.  2413).  And  finally,  said  law  forbade,  under  a fine,  the 
selling  of  unbranded  calves,  either  to  be  shipped  or  slaughtered 
(Art."2419). 

We  are  convinced  by  this  law,  that  in  1856,  cattle  stealing 
had  acquired  three  new  forms,  viz  : the  stealing  of  unbranded 
cattle  ; the  stealing  of  heads  by  stripping  the  skins  off  and 
abandoning  the  remains,  in  order  to  avail  themselves  of  the 
said  skins  ; and  by  branding  cattle  belonging  to  others. 

This  last  form  of  stealing  requires  some  further  explanation. 

Up  to  a certain  age  stock  raisers  do  not  brand  their  cattle, 
the  ownership  being  recognized  by  the  young  keeping  with 
their  mothers. 

He  who  brands  such  animals,  not  his  own,  commits  a plain 
act  of  robbery.  But  such  an  act,  can  only  be  committed  by 
cattle  owners,  who  have  a brand  of  their  own,  and  this  shows 
evidently  that  in  1856,  cattle  stealing  was  not  only  committed 
by  indigent  people,  but  also  by  those  who  owned  and  raised 
cattle,  endeavoring  to  increase  their  stock  by  stamping  their 
brands  on  young  cattle  owned  by  others. 

The  law  passed  the  12th  February,  1858,  indicates  that  the 
evil,  at  that  time,  far  from  being  extinguished,  had  been  en- 
hanced and  was  deeply  rooted.  Said  law  imposed  very  severe 
penalties  of  imprisonment  against  cattle  thieves,  whatever 
might  be  the  kind  of  cattle  that  was  stolen  (Paschall’s  Di- 
gest, Articles  2409,  and  2410,)  as  also  against  whosoever 
might  alter  or  efface  the  brand  of  an  animal  not  belonging  to 
him,  without  the  consent  of  the  owner  thereof. 

So  when  the  Confederate  war  broke  out,  cattle  stealing  was 
committed  in  Texas  under  all  its  forms. 

Demoralization  had  increased  from  1850  to  1858,  as  an 
inevitable  consequence  of  the  want  of  preventive  laws,  such  as 
are  customary  in  all  countries  dedicated  to  stock  raising. 

Disorderly  habits  had  been  created  during  that  period. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


49 


'vvhich  in  the  course  of  time  have  been  spreading,  and  tlie  eradi- 
cation of  which  will  be  exeeedingly  difficult. 

The  war,  by  placing  the  State  in  an  exceptional  condition, 
enlarged  the  scale  of  demoralization,  the  effects  of  which  are 
felt  up  to  to  the  present,  and  will  be  felt  for  a long  time  to  come. 

The  law  of  March  4th,  1863,  shows  the  principal  evils 
suffered  during  the  confederation. 

The  purchasers  of  cattle  destined  to  tlie  use  of  the  confeder- 
ate army,  or  to  exportation,  or  to  a market,  and  of  the  county 
where  the  jmrchase  was  effected,  were  obliged  to  take  from  tlie 
vendor  a deed  of  purchase,  wherein  the  brand,  or  brands, 
should  appear.  This  deed  was  to  be  recorded  by  the  purchaser 
with  the  court  clerk  of  the  county,  and  the  record  to  be  accessi- 
ble to  the  public  for  their  inspection  (Paschall’s  Digest,  Ar- 
ticle 2414).  Purchasers  not  complying  with  above  mentioned 
requirements  incurred  thereby  the  penalty  of  $500  fine  (Ar- 
ticle 2415).  A copy  of  this  deed,  certified  by  the  clerk,  was 
pi'ima  facie  evidence  against  the  vendor  in  any  civil  or  crimi- 
nal proceeding  (Article  2416).  The  enactments  of  tlie  law 
of  1850  were  reiterated,  augmenting  the  penalty. 

There  was  some  reason  for  passing  this  act.  The  very  fact 
that  its  penalty  was  made  more  severe  than  the  penalties  of 
previous  acts,  shows  that  demoralization  and  robbery  had  in- 
creased. 

The  requirements  of  the  act  in  regard  to  the  sale  of  cattle 
show  that  respect  for  other  people’s  property  was  by  no  means 
the  predominant  feeling. 

And  truly,  the  investigation  of  the  Commission  proves 
clearly  the  disorders  of  which  Texas  was  then  the  stage. 

A great  number  of  Texans,  some  of  them  officers  in  the 
Confederate  army,  took  large  droves  of  cattle  to  Matamoros  as 
a market,  and  evidently  this  w'as  not  only  in  Matamoros,  but 
also  in  all  the  towns  of  Texas,  for  said  act  shows  this  to  be  the 
case. 

The  armed  forces  of  Texas,  disorderly  and  insubordinate, 
never  hesitated  to  commit  any  act* of  plunder.  But  leaving 
this  aside,  the  means  employed  by  the  beef  contractors  of  the 
Confederate  army  deserve  a particular  explanation. 

4 


50 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


Tlie  Commission  received  some  accounts  relating  to  one  of 
these  contractors,  a Mr.  Beecher  by  name,  property  owner  on 
San  Antonio  river,  said  accounts  being  given  by  one  who 
served  under  him  during  the  war. 

Mr.  Beecher,  with  the  men  under  liis  service,  used  to  go 
into  the  pasture  grounds,  sometimes  with  and  at  others  with- 
out the  permission  of  the  owners.  He  would  there  make  large 
collections  of  meat  cattle,  and  select  all  the  fat  bullocks  of 
seven  years  of  age  and  upwards,  regardless  of  their  brands.  If, 
perchance,  the  owner  of  the  bullocks  happened  to  be  on  the 
spot,  or  he  came  in  time,  he  received  the  value  of  the  cattle 
marked  with  his  brand  ; but  if  he  happened  to  be  absent,  this 
was  no  objection,  and  Mr.  Beecher  would  drive  ofi’  the  bullocks 
without  paying  for  them.  Once  started  on  his  way,  he  would 
incorporate  in  his  drove  all  the  bullocks  he  came  across  having 
the  conditions  he  required. 

When  he  reached  C-famstone,  a place  on  the  Mississippi 
river,  he  delivered  all  the  cattle  he  had  gathered  to  the  agents 
of  the  Confederate  army.  This  performance  was  carried  on 
during  the  whole  Confederate  war,  and  Mr.  Beecher  was  not 
the  only  beef  contractor. 

The  act  passed  in  1863,  in  no  way  put  a stop  to  the  ever 
increasing  demoralization.  When  the  war  ended,  there  were 
other  causes  conspiring  to  the  same  object,  but  as  said  causes 
are  connected  with  the  stealing  of  cattle  destined  for  the  line 
of  the  Rio  Bravo,  these  will  be  dealt  with  by  the  Commission 
in  its  proper  place. 

Nevertheless  this  will  not  pi’event  the  Commission  from 
remarking  here,  that  after  said  war  concluded,  cattle  stealing 
was  not  purely  local  and  limited  to  the  Rio  Grande  valley,  but 
it  had  a general  character,  as  is  shown  by  the  act  of  Novem- 
ber 13th,  1866.  According  to  this  act,  all  sales,  wdiether  of 
horses  or  meat  cattle  were  to  be  under  bills  of  sale  expressing 
the  number  of  heads,  their  brands  and  marks,  and  the  want  of 
said  document  in  any  criminal  proceeding,  was  \X\q prima  facie 
evidence  of  culpability  against  the  pei'son  in  Avhose  possession 
the  cattle  was  found. 

The  bill  of  sale  was  to  be  recorded  with  the  clerk  of  the 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


51 


County  Court,  whenever  it  referred  to  cattle  taken  on  the  pas- 
ture gTOund.  (1st.)  To  export  cattle  from  the  State  or  any 
county,  it  -was  necessary  that  the  purchaser  should  file  with 
the  court  clerk  a hill  of  sale,  and  a statement  of  the  number  of 
heads,  marks,  brands,  kind  of  cattle  and  domicil  of  tlie  pur- 
chaser, said  document  to  be  recognized  by  the  vendor,  recorded 
by  the  clerk,  and  by  this  functionary  returned  to  the  purchaser, 
after  having  certified  and  sealed  it.  Whoever  was  found 
driving  cattle  from  one  place  to  another,  unprovided  with  said 
documents,  incurred  a penalty  of  double  the  amount  of  the 
value  of  each  animal,  and  the  animals  were  to  be  returned  to 
their  owners  at  the  expense  of  the  accused.  (Sec.  2d.)  The 
owners  of  slaughtering  houses  were  obliged  to  present  to  the 
Police  Court  of  the  county,  a sworn  statement  of  the  number 
of  heads,  color,  age,  marks,  and  brands  of  the  animals  they 
had  slaughtered,  presenting  the  hides  to  the  chief  of  the  po- 
lice or  to  the  clerk  of  the  County  Court,  and  these  officers 
were  to  keep  a registry  open  to  the  public. 

It  was  required  to  file  wfith  each  statement  the  accounts  of 
the  sales  made  over  to  the  slaughterers,  or  to  express  in  its 
case  that  they  were  the  raisers  of  the  heads  that  had  been 
slaughtered. 

Those  who  slaughtered  or  bought  unbranded  heads  of  cat- 
tle, without  a bill  of  sale,  or  failed  to  file  the  sworn  statement, 
incurred  a penalty  of  from  fifty  to  three  hundred  dollars 
(Sec.  3d). 

This  act  endeavored  to  attack  cattle  stealing  in  two  of  its 
gravest  aspects. 

The  first  was  the  exporting  of  cattle  by  those  who  drove  them 
out  of  the  State  or  county,  and  who  while  forming  their  droves, 
gathered  unscrupulously  all  the  heads  that  might  suit  them, 
without  discriminating  their  brands  or  owners.  The  second 
was  the  facilities  the  cattle  thieves  had  for  selling  the  animals 
they  had  stolen  to  the  slaughtering  houses  in  the  towns  of 
Texas,  without  a vestige  being  left  after  a short  while,  on  ac- 
count of  the  animals  being  consumed.  As  to  this  last  shape  of 
cattle  stealing,  the  act  of  1866,  when  compared  with  the  previ- 
ous acts,  shows  that  the  evil  had  increased,  not  only  because  it 


52 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


made  the  penalty  more  severe,  but  also  because  it  augmented 
the  requirements  to  which  the  owners  of  slaughtering  houses 
were  subject. 

In  February,  1869,  Texas  constituted  the  5th  military  dis- 
trict. Major  General  Canby,  in  chief  of  said  district,  by  his 
order  ]Mo.  17,  issued  on  the  25th  of  same  month,  extended  to 
the  traffic  of  hides  the  enactments  of  the  law  of  September  5th, 
1850,  relating  to  the  shipping  and  slaughtering  of  branded  cattle. 

The  purchasers  of  hides  were  obliged  thereafter  to  file  with 
'the  Police  Court  of  the  county  a sworn  statement,  expressing  the 
number,  color,  marks  and  brands  of  the  hides,  name  and  domicil 
of  the  vendor  and  purchaser,  or  whether  the  hides  had  been  taken 
from  stock  raised  by  the  holder  of  said  hides. 

From  these  statements  a record  was  to  be  kept  open  to  the 
inspection  of  the  public  ; contraveners  were  to  be  punished  by 
fines  of  from  fifty  to  three  hundred  dollars.  And  the  purchase 
of  unbranded  hides  was  prohibited,  when  the  marks  had 
been  effaced,  or  removed,  under  a fine  of  twenty-five  dollars. 

The  general  order  No.  108  was  issued  on  June  7th,  1869. 
In  this  order  it  is  said  that  information  had  been  received 
all  parts  of  the  State,  showing  that  cattle  stealing  had  been 
carried  on  during  that  year  to  an  unprecedented  extent,  and 
that  in  many  cases  the  cattle  drivers  would  not  allow  them  to 
be  examined. 

The  same  order  established  certain  rules  according  to  which 
the  inspection  was  to  be  made,  provided  for  the  appointment 
of  public  inspectors,  who  were  to  watch  that  all  the  laws  relat- 
ino;  to  cattle  should  be  dulv  fulfilled,  establishing  also  certain 
rules  for  the  transit  of  cattle  on  the  Rio  Bravo  frontier. 

The  first  order  gives  evidence  that  hide  stealing  had  as- 
•sumed  great  dimensions. 

Tills  kind  of  theft,  as  the  Commission  has  already  observed, 
is  committed  by  flaying  the  cattle  on  the  pasture  grounds, 
where  the  remains  are  abandoned,  and  the  hides  carried  otf. 
This  is  easily  accomplished  on  account  of  the  loneliness  and  ex- 
tent of  the  pastures,  is  full  of  inducements  for  the  high  prices 
which  hides  have  commanded  in  late  years,  and  besides  this, 
it  is  difficult  to  be  discovered  and  proved. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


53 


And  now  it  is  readily  understood  that  this  kind  of  theft 
can  only  be  committed  in  Texas,  by  residents  of  Texas,  and  to 
the  profit  of  dealers  in  hides  living  in  Texas. 

The  general  order  No.  17  sliows  sufficiently  that  the  dep- 
redations committed  in  this  way  bear  no  reference  whatever  to 
the  Mexican  frontier. 

The  second  amongst  the  orders  which  we  have  referred  to, 
shows  that  in  1869,  stealing  by  means  of  exporting  cattle,  had 
assumed  considerable  proportions,  that  want  of  security  .was 
general  in  Texas,  and  that  the  stealing  of  cattle,  with  a view  to 
drive  them  to  the  line  of  the  Rio  Bravo,  was  not  by  itself  the 
principal  question,  but  one  of  its  incidents  only.  In  the  inves- 
tigation of  the  causes  which  have  contributed  to  the  increase 
of  the  crime,  the  Commission  thinks  to  have  found  them  in  the 
existing  demoralization  of  a large  body  of  people,  composed  of 
mercliants  and  property  owners,  who  evade  the  fulfillment  of 
the  laws,  having  sufficient  influence  to  carry  through  their 
purposes.  Besides  this,  the  Commission  hasnoticed  a complete 
subversion  of  moral  principles,  which  has  caused  morality  to 
be  a practical  impossibility. 

Witness  an  Indianola  correspondent  of  the  Texas  Almanac 
(1870,  page  125).  After  citing  the  requirements  of  the  laws 
of  Texas  in  regard  to  the  selling  of  cattle,  and  after  having 
explained  how  the  records  kept  by  the  clerks  of  the  County 
Courts  are  made  available  to  discover  when  cattle  have  been 
sold  illegally,  by  persons  who  are  not  their  owners,  said 
correspondent  adds : 

“ It  often  happetis  too,  that  diff'erent  droves  become  mingled, 
and  it  is  only  by  great  labor  that  they  can  be  separated.  When 
this  is  the  case,  the  general  practice  is  tliat  the  owner  who 
finds  with  his  cattle  lieads  bearing  marks  of  other  owners 
unknown  to  him,  may  sell  them  as  though  they  belonged  to 
him,  setting  down  on  tlie  bill  of  sale  their  marks  and  brands, 
in  order  that  the  owner  who  proves  his  claim  may  have  a right 
to  be  paid,  according  to  said  bill,  the  person  authorizing  the 
same  being  held  responsible  at  any  time.  In  the  large  pastures 
of  the  West,  where  thousands  of  heads  belonging  to  diflerent 


54 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


owners  gather  in  one  drove,  it  frequently  happens  that  tlie 
vendor,  while  driving  his  cattle,  finds  out  some  heads  of  un- 
known brands,  and  it  is  less  troublesome  for  him  to  sell  these 
heads  and  keep  the  proceeds,  subject  to  the  call  of  the  owner, 
than  to  separate  the  heads  from  his  drove.” 

Evidently  no  one  could  make  a mistake  by  calling  this 
proceeding  downright  cattle  stealing. 

As  droves  of  cattle  belonging  to  different  owners  collect 
together  on  account  of  the  pastures  being  open,  and  said  cattle 
roam  over  vast  tracts  of  grazing  ground,  unquestionably,  in 
the  majority  of  cases,  the  owners  w'ho  live  in  a distant  county, 
and  whose  heads  of  cattle  have  been  disposed  of  in  this  manner, 
will  never  hear  of  such  sale,  and  the  vendor  may  sell  with  the 
absolute  certainty  that  no  one  will  ever  claim  the  proceeds. 
Nor  is  it  possible  that  the  cattle  owners  could  visit  all  the 
places  from  whence  or  through  which  cattle  may  have  been 
transported,  and  consequently,  the  willingness  of  the  vendor 
to  deliver  the  proceeds  to  the  real  owner  of  the  heads  he  sold, 
whenever  he  may  present  himself,  has  no  importance  whatever, 
and  is  nothing  else  but  a mark  to  violate  the  law  and  commit 
crime  with  perfect  impunity. 

Tlie  remarks  made  by  the  correspondent  of  the  Texas  Al- 
manac explain  partly  the  reasons  why,  notwithstanding  the 
previous  acts,  the  headquarters  of  the  fifth  military  disti  ict  re- 
ceived complaints  from  all  parts  of  the  State  of  Texas  against 
cattle  stealing,  whilst  droves  were  being  transported,  and  also 
show  that  these  depredations  were  committed  by  stock  owners 
whilst  disposing  of  cattle,  and  that  the  line  of  the  Rio  Bravo 
has  had  no  part  in  this  form  of  cattle  stealing. 

The  information  received  by  the  Commission  shows  to 
what  extent  the  abuses  concealed  under  this  practice  were 
carried.  It  not  only  helps  large  owners  of  cattle  to  take  away 
and  sell  heads  that  do  not  belong  to  them,  but  enables  in- 
dividuals of  very  limited  means  to  sell  great  numbers  of  cattle, 
as  if  they  were  rich  stock  owners. 

There  is  a case  in  which  out  of  sixty-six  heads  of  cattle 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


55 


sold,  only  four  bore  the  brand  of  the  vender,  and  the  balance 
belonged  to  other  owners. 

In  another  case  of  eighty  heads  sold  by  three  persons,  there 
was  only  one  head  bearing  the  brand  of  one  of  said  persons, 
and  not  one  with  the  brand  of  the  other  two. 

All  this  information  refers  especially  to  American  stock 
raisers  of  the  river  Nueces,  who  complain  most  bitterly  against 
the  Mexican  frontier. 

The  large  stock  owners  complain  that  these  abuses  are  com- 
mitted by  persons  having  no  capital,  but  they  restrict  them- 
selves to  sterile  complaints,  trusting  perhaps  that  they  will 
have  more  than  sufficient  compensation  in  committing  like 
abuses  in  their  turn. 

They  certainly  suffer,  but  prevent  their  remedy  from  being 
applied,  because  it  would  deprive  them  from  committing  the 
very  same  depredations. 

Those  who  really  suffer  are  Mexican  stock  owners,  against 
whom  the  greatest  indignation  would  be  manifested,  if  they 
dared  to  act  in  like  manner. 

They  are  really,  therefore,  the  principal  victims,  and  some 
of  them  have  preferred  to  abandon  Texas. 

Some  American  stock  raisers  on  the  Nueces  river,  have  of 
late  fenced  larger  or  smaller  tracts  of  lands,  wherein  they  keep 
their  stock. 

No  admittance  is  allowed  on  the  premises,  but  to  then- 
agents  or  to  purchasers,  and  these  have  informed  the  Commis- 
sion, that  said  stock  raisers  hold  a large  amount  of  cattle,  that 
does  not  belong  to  them,  but  which  they  sell  as  if  it  did. 

Cattle  inspection  is  not  and  never  has  been  a means  of  pro- 
tection ; those  who  commit  the  abuses  we  have  referred  to, 
alter  the  marks,  and  either  on  account  of  the  swiftness  of  the 
cattle,  which  does  not  allow  any  one  to  approach,  especially  if 
he  is  not  on  horseback,  or  because  the  inspectors  cannot  dis- 
tinguish the  marks,  they  are  never  able  to  detect  the 
frauds  committed  by  the  vendors. 

In  the  majority  of  cases,  said  inspectors  do  not  even  affect 
to  inspect  the  cattle,  limiting  their  exertions  simply  to  counting 
the  number  of  heads,  and  when  it  is  found  to  agree  with  the 


66 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


number  on  the  face  of  the  bill  of  sale,  they  set  down  the  marks 
designated  on  said  bill. 

These  remarks,  referring  to  small  droves,  have  been  made 
by  American  stock  raisers  of  the  Nueces  and  Rio  Frio,  to 
dealers  in  Mexico,  and  they  give  a good  foundation  to  surmise 
the  enormous  frauds  committed  in  those  large  lots  of  from  five 
hundred  to  two  thousand  heads,  which  are  exported  from  Texas 
to  the  Northern  States. 

It  is  very  plain  therefore,  that,  even  should  the  owner  ap- 
ply to  the  registry  in  order  to  find  out  whether  some  of  his 
heads  had  been  sold,  said  registry  would  be  of  very  little  use 
to  him,  on  account  of  the  alteration  of  the  marks. 

It  is  not  the  perpetration  of  the  crime  itself  which  calls 
particularly  our  attention,  but  its  being  considered  in  the  cate- 
gory of  dire  necessity,  the  origin  of  which  should  be  accounted 
for,  by  the  mingling  of  large  numbers  of  cattle  belonging  to 
difierent  owners. 

When  a large  drove  of  cattle  destined  for  exportation  is 
formed,  it  is  only  a certain  kind  of  cattle  that  is  included, 
which  is  selected  from  those  large  collections  called  “ round 
ants.” 

In  the  mean  time,  while  the  picked  heads  are  being  exported, 
it  would  be  very  easy  to  separate  the  heads  having  a difierent 
mark  from  the  owner’s. 

Therefore,  if  amongst  the  picked  lots,  heads  of  cattle  with 
difierent  brands  should  be  found,  there  has  been  necessarily  a 
positive  act,  executed  with  a deliberate  intention  and  will. 
This  is  not,  however,  the  only  case  in  which  the  Commission 
has  noticed  a perversion  of  the  principles  of  morality. 

Further  on  we  shall  have  an  opportunity  to  show  distinctly 
that  cattle  stealing,  in  the  shape  of  branding  young  heads  not 
belonging  to  persons  so  branding  them,  and  the  tratfic  of  stolen 
hides,  have  found  defenders  in  Texas,  invoking  reasons  of  pub- 
lic utility,  in  which  we  can  only  find  the  crime  adorned  with 
phrases  that  cannot  bear  analysis. 

The  military  orders  issued  in  1869  were  as  inefiectual  as  the 
acts  previously  passed. 

It  was,  perhaps,  for  this  reason,  that  on  the  22d  of  May, 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION.  57 

1871,  another  act  was  passed,  the  most  complete  of  all  which 
had  been  enacted  np  to  that  date,  dealing  with  cattle  stealing 
in  all  its  shapes. 

Said  act  ordered  the  inspection  of  hides  and  animals  in  each 
county,  with  the  exception  of  the  counties  situated  on  the  west 
of  the  Colorado  river,  and  towards  the  south  of  the  Colorado 
branch  of  the  same  river,  in  which  counties  the  inspection  is 
confined  to  certain  objects, 

A public  ofiicer  is  to  inspect  all  the  hides,  the  sales  of  which 
have  been  notified  to  him,  whenever  said  hides  are  to  be  ex- 
ported from  the  county,  destined  for  the  market  or  for  ship- 
ment, keeping  a record  of  the  marks  and  brands,  names  of  the 
vendors  and  purchasers,  and  this  ofiicer  is  not  to  allow  the  ex- 
portation of  a single  animal  or  hide  when  the  brand  is  not 
plain,  or  when  the  hide  was  branded  subsequent  to  the  flaying 
of  the  animal,  and  neither  to  allow  unbranded  cattle  to  be 
killed  in  the  packeries  and  butcheries  of  the  county,  nor  that 
they  should  be  sold  or  shipped  out  of  the  county,  unless  the 
ownership  be  proved  (Sec.  4:th). 

From  its  sundrj^  provisions  it  follows  that  cattle  stealing 
has  distinct  phases  in  Texas,  which  may  be  reduced  to  these 
two,  viz : cattle  stealing  with  a view  to  dispose  of  the  heads 
out  of  the  limits  of  the  State,  and  with  a view  to  disposing  of 
them  within  said  limits. 

The  first  is  committed  in  the  shape  of  taking  droves  of  cat- 
tle out  of  the  State,  either  by  land  or  water. 

The  second  has  the  following  forms  ; I.  The  appropriating 
of  cattle  belonging  to  other  persons,  altering  their  marks  either 
on  the  animals  or  on  the  bills  of  sale.  II.  The  driving  of  cat- 
tle destined  for  the  butcheries  and  for  consumption.  III.  The 
driving  in  lots  to  large  establishments  where  enormous  numbers 
of  cattle  are  butchered.  IV.  The  flaying  of  animals  on  the 
pastures  to  arry  off  the  hides ; and  V.  The  stealing  of  young 
cattle,  branding  the  heads  which  still  follow  their  mothers. 

The  laws  of  Texas  afford  very  interesting  data  in  regard  to 
cattle  depredations  committed  there  in  late  years.  From  1850 
to  the  present,  we  notice  an  ever-increasing  demoralization, 
which  assumed  colossal  proportions  since  the  Confederate  war. 


58 


KEPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


The  evil  does  not  present  a local  character,  but  a general 
one,  extending  over  all  the  States. 

Thei’e  is  not  a single  shape  in  which  cattle  stealing  can  pos- 
sibly be  committed  which  has  not  been  tried,  and  of  its  six 
phases,  five  have  been  committed  by  and  to  the  profit  of  said 
residents  of  Texas. 

The  other  phase,  namely,  when  the  crime  is  committed  by 
exporting  cattle  out  of  the  State,  the  exportation  is  made 
through  the  ports  to  Kansas,  Missouri,  and  California,  on  the 
northern  frontier,  and  to  Mexico,  on  the  southern. 

The  laws  of  Texas  are,  therefore,  the  first  data  necessary  to 
understand  that  cattle  stealing  on  the  American  frontier,  with 
a view  to  introduce  them  into  Mexico,  is  only  an  accessory  to 
a vast  question,  and  that  its  causes  are  not  to  be  looked  for  on 
the  Mexican  frontier,  but  in  the  demoralization  predominating 
in  some  of  the  masses  of  the  inhabitants  of  Texas.  The  testi- 
monial evidence  referring  to  this  question  presented  interesting 
details  for  the  Commission,  and  is  the  commentary  on  the  laws 
of  Texas.  ' 

. Tlie  Commission  has  already  called  attention  to  the  vast 
number  of  cattle  which  are  being  exported  to-day  from  Texas 
to  Kansas. 

Tliere  has  been  a case  in  which  an  entire  drove  taken  to  the 
last  named  State  was  composed  of  heads  stolen  by  the  drivers 
on  several  pastures ; but  this  is  an  exceptional  case. 

In  the  majority  of  cases,  when  a drove  is  being  formed, 
heads  of  cattle  the  property  of  other  people  are  mingled  with 
those  of  a legitimate  source ; and  besides  that,  the  drivere  on 
their  way  either  take  deliberately  whatever  they  may  come 
across,  or  do  not  take  the  trouble  to  separate  the  heads  that  get 
mingled  with  their  droves. 

These  are  formed  on  the  Xueces  to  be  driven  to  the  North, 
and  several  persons  who  have  traveled  in  Texas,  have  seen 
occasionally  heads  of  cattle  bearing  the  brands  of  stock  raisers 
in  Cameron  county,  who  never  had  sold  them. 

In  regard  to  the  droves  carried  to  the  ports,  the  same  pro- 
ceeding is  adopted. 

The  large  packeries  of  Texas  are  places  where  stolen  cattle 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


59 


are  unscrupulously  transported  ; when  the  animal  has  been 
butchered,  the  hides,  the  fat,  the  hoofs  and  the  horns  are 
separated ; as  to  the  meat,  it  is  left  without  any  blood  and  is 
fed  to  hogs. 

The  enormous  number  of  cattle  consumed  in  those  estab- 
lishments can  well  be  appreciated  by  the  exportation  of  hides, 
to  which  trade  said  establishments  contribute  to  a large  amount. 

Cattle  are  rapidly  consumed  there,  without  their  owners 
noticing  their  loss,  or  without  having  any  means  to  prove  it, 
in  case  they  should  notice  it. 

Their  only  protection  is  the  law  ordering  the  inspection  of 
hides,  the  inefficacy  of  which  is  well  tested  by  the  very  fact 
that  hide  stealing  is  committed  daily  on  a very  large  scale,  and 
the  mischief  is  increasing  instead  of  decreasing.  We  herewith 
annex  extracts  taken  from  several  newspapers. 

“ We  have  heard  that  on  several  ranches  in  the  interior  of 
our  country,  cattle  are  being  killed  on  the  pasture  only  for  the 
sake  of  the  hides,  without  any  consideration  to  property. 
There  is  a ranche  which  must  be  carrying  on  a very  profitable 
business,  as  it  is  said  that  it  can  maintain  continually  traffic 
with  two  persons.” — The  Sentinel^  Brownsville,  Feb.  11,  1873. 

“ The  news  received  from  the  northern  portion  of  this 
county  (Cameron)  and  from  the  south  of  the  Nueces  is  very 
discouraging.  The  peelers  are  flaying  daily  thousands  of  heads. 
They  don’t  wait  for  the  animals  to  die,  but  shoot  at  those  that 
have  fallen,  and  their  shots  can  be  heard  at  any  hour  of  the 
night.  They  have  no  respect  for  the  rights  of  other  people, 
their  only  object  being  to  make  money.  They  get  four  dollars 
on  each  hide,  and  as  to  the  purchasers,  they  have  no  inclination 
to  be  more  scrupulous  in  making  the  acquisition.  * * * 

The  demoralization  caused  hy  the  war  is  yet  'producing  its  lad 
effects.  The  people  of  Texas  will  yet  have  to  suffer  terribly 
on  account  of  the  flayers,  the  cold  and  the  lack  of  pasture.” — 
The  Sentinel.,  Brownsville,  Feb.  14,  1873. 

“Many  stock  raisers  of  Refugio  county  have  been  in  our 
city  for  several  days  examining  hides  by  virtue  of  injunctions, 
of  which  they  bring  their  pockets  full.  They  seem  to  be  ex- 
asperated from  having  found  the  remains  of  animals  killed  on 
the  pasture,  evidently  for  the  purpose  of  taking  the  hides.” — 
Goliad  Guard. 

“ A Commission  of  property  owners  have  arrived  in  our  city 
(San  Antonio)  in  search  of  stolen  hides  taken  from  dead  ani- 


60 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


mals.  We  have  been  advised  that  a large  number  of  trouble- 
some lawsuits  liave  been  instituted  against  several  of  our 
mercliants  to  wlinm  hides  have  been  consigned  for  sale.” — 
San  Antonio  ^Veekly  Herald^  Marcli  8,  1873, 

“ An  organized  band  of  cattle  thieves,  under  the  leadership 
of  the  notorious  thief  Alberto  Garza,  are  scouring  Nueces  and 
Duval  counties,  said  band  numbering  from  twenty  to  thirty 
men. 

“ Tlie  last  number  of  the  Gaceta,  of  Corpus  Christi,  gives  an 
interesting  account  ol^  the  operations  of  tliese  banditti,  who 
killed  and  fla^-ed  in  one  place  two  hundred  and  seventy-five 
heads  in  anotlier  three  hundred,  and  in  another  sixty-six.” — 
Daily  Ranchero,  Brownsville,  March  1,  1873. 

Another  newspaper,  referring  to  this  same  band  and  to  the 
ineffectual  persecution  of  it,  says  : 

“ We  believe  that  the  cattle  owners  of  the  Nueces  and  Rio 
Grande  ought  to  do  something  better  than  to  run  after  these 
robbers.  They  must  direct  their  attention  to  the  buyers  of 
hides.  A little  discipline  exercised  against  these  supporters  of 
thieves  will  soon  put  a stop  to  the  trouble.  If  there  were  n? 
buyers  the  thieves  would  soon  take  another  course.  The  mer- 
chant who  buys  from  the  thieves  is  worse  than  the  thieves 
themselves.  He  is  only  one,  but  he  turns  twenty  into  scoun- 
drels, trusting  in  his  position  to  save  himself  from  reproach  and 
censure.” — The  Sentinel,  May  2,  1873. 

We  are  satisfied  by  these  extracts  that  the  act  of  1871  was 
as  ineffectual  as  the  previous  acts,  probably  because  demorali- 
zation has  spread  to  some  of  the  well-to-do  and  influential 
classes  of  Texas  society. 

The  last  but  one  of  the  above  mentioned  newspapers  says  : 

“We  believe  the  proper  time  to  have  ascertained  the 
ownership  of  these  hides  was  before  they  were  exported  from 
the  county  where  the  cattle  were  flayed,  and  whilst  said  hides 
were  still  in  tlie  possession  of  the  first  holders. 

“ It  is  somewhat  strange  to  wait  for  the  sale  of  the  hides, 
and  for  these  to  come  in  the  hands  of  second  or  third  innocent 
parties,  and  then  to  waylay  them  at  their  place  of  destination.” 

The  law  of  Texas  contains  provisions  which,  if  com]died 
with,  would  guarantee  all  purchasers  that  the  hides  and  cattle 
they  bouglit  came  from  a legitimate  source. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


61 


If  ill-gotten  hides  are  found  in  their  hands,  in  the  majority 
of  cases,  it  must  be  attributed  to  a neglect  on  their  part  to  ful- 
fill the  law,  a neglect  which  has  or  can  have  no  other  causes 
than  a want  of  scrupulousness  in  buying  stolen  property,  and 
the  neglect  or  complicity  on  the  part  of  the  inspectors  of  hides. 

The  above  article  is  something  more  than  an  alteration  of 
the  legal  principles  guaranteeing  to  the  owner  the  right  to 
claim  his  property  against  whoever  may  hold  it,  be  it  in  good 
or  bad  faith  ; it  is  the  defense  of  an  illicit  trafiic,  of  a crime. 

The  region  lying  between  the  Kio  Bravo  and  the  Nueces 
does  not  constitute  an  exception  as  to  cattle  stealing  in  Texas  ; 
on  the  contary,  cattle  stealing  is  committed  there  under  all  its 
forms,  but  its  most  important  characters  are  twofold. 

In  the  Nueces  region,  there  is  certain  class  of  property 
owners,  Americans  by  birth  and  nationality,  who  being  influen- 
tial on  account  of  the  wealth  they  have  amassed,  are  completely 
unrestrained,  because  there  are  no  laws  or  authorities  in  the 
county,  or  in  the  bordering  counties,  to  restrain  them  who  with 
absolute  impunity  commit  the  greatest  depredations,  and  who 
unscnpulously  use  their  position  to  increase  their  wealth. 

In  the  country  between  the  Rio  Bravo  and  the  Nueces,  the 
greatest  number  of  property  owners  are  Mexicans,  and  it  is  on 
their  property  that  said  depredations  are  committed. 

Amongst  the  Mexicans  it  is  the  custom  to  mark  the  young 
animals  every  six  months,  and  to  brand  them  every  six  months 
afterwards. 

The  ownership  of  these  young  animals  is  recognized  by  the 
brands  on  the  mothers  they  follow. 

The  mark  is  a cut  on  the  ear,  and  a certain  sign  of  ownership. 
In  case  the  cow  should  die,  the  sign  would  prove  the  owner- 
ship. 

Finally,  the  brand,  which  is  a mark  in  the  shape  of  letters, 
or  other  characters,  which  is  stamped  with  a heated  iron  on  the 
body  of  the  animal,  is  the  evidence  of  ownership  when  the  ani- 
mal has  been  separated  from  the  cow. 

Generally  the  American  stock  owners  of  the  Nueces  have 
no  fixed  period  for  branding  their  animals.  There  are  some, 
for  instance  Richard  King,  owner  of  the  hacienda  Gertrudis 


62 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


(Nueces),  who  lias  a large  retinue  of  people  in  his  service- 
(King's  people  sometimes  number  as  many  as  sixty  men.) 

These  people  visit  all  the  pastures  belonging  to  other  own- 
ers, where  most  generally  they  introduce  themselves  without 
asking  for  the  owner’s  permission,  they  there  mark  large  collec- 
tions of  cattle,  separating  all  the  unbrancled  heads  they  find,  even 
if  these  heads  follow  cows  bearing  brands  of  other  owners.  If 
they  have  marks  on  the  ears,  these  are  disfigured  by  another 
cut,  then  they  are  branded  with  the  brand  of  the  name  of  the 
person  for  whom  they  work,  and  carried  off  to  his  pastures. 

Y ery  often  these  heads  leave  the  place  and  return  to  their 
old  pastures,  and  hence  it  is  that  young  cattle  bearing  the  brand 
of  Richard  King,  or  some  other  stock  ownei’,  have  been  seen 
following  cows  belonging  to  diflferent  owners. 

Referring  to  this,  a Texas  newspaper,  after  mentioning  the 
stealing  of  hides  committed  on  a ranche  adds  the  following: 

~ <D 

“ This  ranch  carries  on  another  speculation,  which  consists 
in  branding  all  the  young  cattle  that  can  be  found,  regardless 
of  their  owners.  * * * It  is  said  that  some  men  of  the 

Nueces  county  not  far  from  here  came  and  collected  all  the 
calves  they  could  find  and  branded  them  for  the  benefit  of 
those  whom  they  serve.  If  this  business  continues  nothing  will 
be  left  to  our  stock  raisers  but  their  corrals  and  wells.” — The 
Sentinel^  Brownsville,  Feb.  11,  1873. 

An  article  published  in  The  Texas  Nexo  Yorker,  pp.  110 
and  111,  “ Cattle  Raising  in  AVestern  Texas,”  contains  a para- 
grapfii  Avhich  attracted  the  attention  of  the  Commission.  It 
says : 

“ In  a large  country  like  this  (Texas)  wliere  there  is  so 
great  a number  of  cattle,  it  is  utterly  impossible  for  the  owners 
to  find  opp)ortunely  the  calves  to  brand  them.  Before  the 
calves  are  weaned  it  is  easy  to  tell  to  whom  they  belong 
by  the  mark  and  brand  of  the  cow,  and  no  unauthorized  person 
would  touch  them,  even  if  their  owner  should  be  a hundred 
miles  distant ; but  after  the  calves  have  been  weaned,  and  when 
they  cease  following  any  particular  cow,  no  one  can  tell  to 
whom  they  belong,  and  it  has  been  the  custom  for  any  person 
having  cattle  on  the  pasture  to  mark  these  maverick  calves 
with  their  sign  and  brand.  * * * Our  cow  hunters  divide 

ecpially  among  themselves  the  maverick  calves.  Occasionally 


NORTHERX  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


63 


some  youug  men  who  have  no  cattle  of  their  own  will  take 
part  in  these  expeditions,  or  they  will  give  their  services  by  the 
year  to  receive  a pro  rata  of  all  the  maverick  cattle  that  may 
be  found.  1 know  of  several  who  have  begun  in  this'  manner, 
and  who  are  to-day  large  and  respectable  stock  owmers.  It  is 
a matter  of  course  that  tliese  maverick  heads  are  by  no  means 
divided  in  equal  shares.  The  man  who  is  going  rapidly  after 
his  cattle  brands  not  only  what  is  his  own,  but  brands  also 
whatev'er  his  neighbor  leaves  unmarked  or  unbranded. 

“ TFe  have  had  many  laws  on  the  subject,  hid  nothing  has 
changed  or  will  he  able  to  change  the  habit. 

“ Should  a law  be  passed  making  it  a crime  to  mark  or  brand 
a calf,  the  ownership  of  which  has  not  been  identified  by  the 
fact  of  its  following  a cow,  ten  years  afterwards,  these  cattle 
would  outnumber  the  branded  cattle,  would  belong  to  no  one, 
and  would  injure  the  country,  bcdlowing  on  thousands  of  hil- 
locks. 

“ By  studying  these  questions  with  a sincere  wish  to  discover 
the  truth,  any  person  will  immediately  understanding  why  the 
Texas  laws  relating  to  maverick  cattle  have  been  inetfectual, 
and  why  there  is  such  an  interest  in  preserving  the  custom  that 
the  stock  raiser  should  brand  all  that  kind  of  cattle  he  came 
across. 

“ Under  the  shadow  of  this  custom  the  greatest  depredations 
have  been  and  are  still  being  committed  on  the  property  of 
Mexican  stock  raisers. 

“ The  laws  relating  to  the  inspection  of  cattle  (corridas  de 
ganado),  in  force  in  the  frontier  States  of  Mexico,  and  tending 
to  avoid  like  depredations  as  are  committed  in  Texas,  con- 
vince us  that  there  is  no  foundation  in  the  reason  on  which  said 
custom  is  pretended  to  be  based. 

“ These  reasons  are  substantially  the  fear  that  the  maverrick 
calves  may  turn  into  wdld  cattle,  and  in  the  lapse  of  time  be 
so  numerous  as  to  frighten  the  tame  cattle,  and  turn  them  also 
into  wild  cattle. 

“ This  fear  obliges  all  the  owners  who  may  find  such  kind  of 
cattle  to  appropriate  them,  and  under  this  pretext  they  appro- 
priate also  unbranded  calves,  notwithstanding  that  the  owner- 
ship is  well  determined  by  their  following  cows  bearing  brands 
of  different  owners. 

“ In  said  laws  it  is  determined  the  manner  in  which  the  in- 
spection (corrida)  is  to  be  made ; the  conditions  necessary  to 
performing  the  same  on  pastures  belonging  to  other  owners  \ 
the  notice  that  is  to  be  given  to  all  the  owners  in  order  that 
they  may  present  themselves  and  take  care  of  their  property; 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


U 

tlie  persons  who  liave  a right  to  the  maverick  calves,  and  the 
manner  in  which  they  are  to  be  distributed. 

“ All  these  circumstances  are  well  preconsidered,  and  to  show 
how  well  grounded  those  fears  are. 

“ There  are  no  such  laws  in  Texas  to  secure  cattle  owners 
from  the  depredations  of  which  they  have  been  the  victims  up 
to  the  present.” 

The  article  from  which  we  copied  the  above  paragraphs  was 
written  with  a view  to  encourage  immigration  to  "Westeru 
Texas,  by  showing  how  easy  it  is  to  make  a fortune  there  by 
stock  raising.  To  this  effect  several  cases  of  large  fortunes  are 
cited,  and  amongst  others  (The  Texas  ISTew  Yorker,  p.  Ill)  the 
case  of  an  inhabitant  of  the  Nueces,  who  began  to  work  in 
1865.  His  compensation  was  a share  in  the  maverick  calves 
at  first ; he  afterwards  received  a certain  number  of  cattle  on 
the  third  part  of  the  profits.  From  others  he  received  a dollar  a 
a head  to  collect  cattle  for  them,  and  fifty  cents  for  branding 
their  calves.  In  this  way  he  had  obtained  in  the  beginning  of 
1872  a fortune  in  lands,  and  seven  thousand  heads  of  meat 
cattle. 

Now,  no  matter  how  favorable  the  circumstances  of  Texas 
might  be  supposed  to  be,  it  is  impossible  to  acquire  such  a large 
capital  in  so  short  a time,  and  by  such  means.  Wealtli  made 
so  rapidly  must  generally  be  attributed  to  other  causes  tlian 
honest  work.  Right  alongside  of  some  large  stock  owners,  to 
whom  neither  droughts  nor  any  othey'  calamity  of  that  kind  is  a 
hindrance  to  the  progressing  of  their  cattle,  there  are  others 
whose  cattle  are  in  a state  of  decadence,  or  are  stationary.  The 
lands  are  the  same  ; the  conditions  of  labor  equal,  and  the  in- 
fluences of  nature  also  equal ; and  still  one  cattle  improves  and 
augments  whilst  the  other  is  diminished  and  perishes.  The 
depredations  committed  by  the  first  on  the  property  of  the  last 
stock  raisers  explain  this  contradictory  situation  in  the  same 
locality. 

And  this  is  by  no  means  the  only  grievance  siiftered  by  the 
Mexican  owners  in  their  cattle.  During  the  cold  weather, 
when  the  cattle  of  the  Nueces  take  refuge  in  the  most  soutliern 
parts,  or  when,  on  account  of  the  drought,  they  -have  gone  in 
late  years  to  other  pastures,  the  American  stock  owners  ot  the 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


65 


Nueces,  in  collecting  their  cattle,  have  carried  away  with  them 
large  numbers  of  lieads  belonging  to  Mexican  owners,  even 
though  they  wmre  marked,  and  there  is  no  relief  from  these 
depredations,  as  there  is  none  from  the  others.  To  the  igno- 
rance of  the  language,  of  the  laws  and  of  their  rights,  is  added 
all  that  the  prejudice  of  race  can  imagine  to  constitute  these 
Mexicans  into  an  oppressed  class.  They  do  not  enjoy  the  full 
protection  of  the  laws,  and  justice  is  in  the  hands  or  is  con- 
trolled by  their  adversaries.  There  are  some  who  dare  not  use 
their  property  with  absolute  liberty ; for  instance,  in  several 
counties,  they  do  not  brand  their  cattle  by  themselves,  fearing 
that  some  imaginary  crimes  may  be  invented  to  injure  them, 
but  they  bargain  with  the  foreman  of  some  American  party  to 
brand  them,  paying  them  fifty  cents  for  each  calf  branded. 

The  Commission  has  heretofore  examined  cattle  stealing  in 
Texas  in  its  general  forms,  inferring  that  the  commission  of  the 
crime,  with  a view  to  carry  the  stolen  cattle  to  the  bank  of  the 
Rio  Bravo  does  not  present  the  aspect  of  the  principal  ques- 
tion, much  less,  of  the  exclusive  one;  but  that  is  one  of  the 
many  details  of  the  vast  demoralization  under  which  Texas  is 
laboring.  But  as  this  phase  of  the  question  affects  the  friendly 
relations  of  the  two  frontiers,  the  Commission  studied  it  in  a very 
prolix  manner. 


vir. 

The  robberies  committed  from  the  interior  of  Texas  to  the 
line  of  the  river,  have  been  carried  to  the  American  and  to  the 
Mexican  banks.  Both  are  so  confounded  that  it  may  be  said 
that  they  recognize  the  same  cause  and  were  perpetrated  by  the 
same  parties,  there  being  no  other  difference  between  one  bank 
and  the  other  than  the  places  of  consumption,  and  of  the  deal- 
ers who  brought  to  the  market  the  meat  of  cattle  stolen  in 
Texas.  , 

The  direct  causes  of  the  ruling  demoralization  on  the 
American  bank  of  the  Rio  Bravo  are  four,  viz  : the  practice  of 
cattle  stealing,  dating  as  far  back  as  1848,  on  Mexican  soil  for 


06 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


Texas,  under  the  protection  and  connivance  of  citizens  and 
residents  of  the  United  States;  tlie  organizing  of  armed  forces 
on  botli  frontiers  during  tlie  Confederate  war  by  agents  of  the 
United  States  government  to  combat  the  Texan  foices ; the 
driving  of  large  droves' of  stolen  cattle,  collected  on  the  pas- 
tures, during  the  Confederate  war,  by  Americans,  who  took 
into  their  service  a large  body  of  men  with  a view  to  commit 
those  depredations;  the  appointing  of  commissions  by  the  com- 
manders of  the  United  States  forces,  on  both  occasions  of  the 
occupation  of  Brownsville,  in  order  that  said  commissions  should 
go  to  the  pastures  on  the  Bravo  and  the  Nueces  to  take  the  cat- 
tle which  was  said  to  be  contiscated  to  the  Confederates. 

The  first  cause  was  anterior  to  the  civil  war  in  the  United 
States,  and  gave  rise  to  the  existence  of  a mass  of  immoral 
people  Avho  would  not  lose  the  opportunity  to  commit  in  Texas 
the  crimes  of  which  Mexico  had  been  the  victim  up  to  that 
date.  The  other  causes  require  greater  explanation. 

When  the  civil  war  broke  out  in  the  United  States,  efforts 
were  made  to  force  the  Mexicans  living  in  Texa«,  whether  or 
not  they  had  American  citizenshij),  to  take  a part  in  favor  of  the 
Confcdeiates.  Either  on  account  of  tluir  dislike  to  the  Con- 
federate cause,  or  on  account  of  their  living  amongst  its  de- 
fenders, those  very  persons  from  whom  they  had  received  so 
many  vexations,  the  fact  is  the  great  majnrity  of  the  Mexicans 
presented  an  absolute  resistance,  and  it  was  oidy  a small  num- 
ber who  joined  tlie  Confederates.  The  rest  found  themselves 
persecuted  and  more  oppressed  than  ordinary,  the  most  remark- 
able event  being  the  raid  by  the  Confederates  on  Rancho  Cla- 
reno,  Zapata  county  (Texai),  in  April,  1801,  in  which  raid 
several  inoffensive  inhabitants  were  assassinated. 

By  cause  of  these  persecutions  the  Mexic  n inhabitants  of 
Texas  took  refuge  on  the  Mexican  frontier,  abandoning  their 
interests  and  property.  The  agents  ('f  the  United  States  Gov- 
ernment conceived  that  a power: ul  ally  cmild  be  found  in  those 
inhabitants,  on  account  of  the  past  oppiessions  and  the  hatred 
of  the  present,  and  they  tried  to  utilize  it.  It  was  at  this  time 
that  the  organizing  of  bodies  of  men  on  Mexican  soil  took 
place,  at  the  expense  and  in  the  service  of  the  United  States,  • 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


(57 


for  the  purpose  of  crossing  into  Texas  to  give  liostilities  to  tlie 
Confederates.  It  is  easy  to  conceive  tlie  bitter  discussions  car- 
ried on  for  this  reason,  between  the  authorities  of  the  Confed- 
eration and  Me.xico,  The  Commission  has  collected  all  the 
data  it  had  within  its  reach  relating  to  these  difficulties,  which 
they  will  fully  discuss  further  on,  limiting  itself  now  to  char- 
acterize those  facts  in  their  general  aspect. 

On  September  27th,  1862,  the  Confederate  commandant  of 
Einggold  Barracks,  wrote  to  the  authorities  of  Camargo,  as 
follows : 

“During  the  last  twenty-four  hours,  the  band  of  marauders 
under  the  command  of  Vela,  * * * * * after  having 

raised  the  Yanlcee  flag,  the  flag  of  our  enemies,  on  iiexican 
teiritory,  which  pretends  to  be  neutral,  threatened  to  in- 
vade Texas,  with  the  manifest  purpose  of  assassinating,  robbing 
and  destroying  the  peaceful  citizens  of  this  State,  whenever  and 
wherever  they  iniglit  be  found  ; and  canning  into  execution 
tlieir  threat,  tliey  crossed  the  Bio  Bravo,  at  the  distance  of 
eighteen  miles  from  here,  intercepted  four  wagons  loaded  with 
provishms  belonging  to  the  Confederate  States,  assassimited 
three  of  the  drivers,  and  captured  :ind  destroyed  said  property. 
This  same  band  captured  a Mr.  Rifles,  private  in  the  company 
of  Captain  R.  Benavides,  in  the  service  of  the  Coiil'ederation, 
and  said  individual  is  believed  to  have  been  assassinated. 
Moreover,  another  band  under  the  command  of  the  notorious 
thief  and  assassin,  Octaviano  Z ipata,  cro3.-<ed  at  a distance  of 
forty  miles  from  here,  at  the  Clareno  Ibuich,  took  away  the 
horses  belonging  to  the  company  of  Benavides,  whilst  they 
were  grazing,  and  hung  a boy  citizen  of  the  Confederate  States, 
called  Juan  Vela.” 

On  the  20th  of  January,  1SG3,  the  same  military  com- 
mander wrote  : 

“ 1 am  duly  informed  that  these  bands  are  continuing  to  be 
organized,  on  the  western  bank  of  the  river;  tluar  intentions 
are  not  only  hostile  to  my  government,  but  they  boast  of  being 
the  allies  of  Yankee  despotism." 

About  1862,  Octaviano  Zapata,  avIio  was  one  of  the  refugees 
of  Carino  Ranche,  entered  into  th(;  service  of  the  United  States. 
He  organized  in  Mexico  a party  of  from  sixty  to  eighty  men, 
paid  by  the  agents  of  the  United  States  Government  at  the  rate 


68 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


of  two  hundred  dollars  for  the  enlistment  of  each  man.  Said 
force  was  maintained  in  Mexico,  avoiding  the  persecution  of 
the  Confederates,  and  whenever  a favorable  chance  presented 
itself,  they  would  cross  over  to  the  American  side  of  the  river 
and  cany  hostilities  to  the  Confederates. 

On  January  6th,  1863,  the  Confederate  officer  in  command 
at  Carrizo,  wrote  to  the  president  of  the  town  council  of  Mier, 
as  follows : 

“ I have  the  pleasure  to  advise  you  that  within  the  surround- 
ings of  this  place  some  parties  of  men  are  being  organized  for 
the  purpose  of  carrying  hostilities  into  Texas,  under  jyretext  of 
the  government  of  the.  North,  and  the  commander  of  said  parties 
is  Octaviano  Zapata.  * * * There  is  no  doubt  that  said 

parties  do  exist,  as  they  have  robbed  me  of  thirty-two  liorses 
at  Carrizo,  and  I expect  of  you,  that  you  will  catch  the  robbers, 
as  otherwise  I will  be  obliged  to  cross  over  to  that  side  with 
my  force  and  persecute  them  until  I chastise  them.” 

Zapata  continued  in  this  manner  until  he  was  killed  on 
Mexican  territory  by  a Confederate  force  who  invaded  our  soil 
with  that  purpose. 

The  enlistment  and  organizing  of  men  on  Mexican  territory 
continued.  One  of  the  cases  known  by  the  Commission  was 
that  of  Regino  Ramon,  who  was  enlisted  in  Camargo,  Mexico, 
in  1864,  by  agents  of  the  United  States  Government.  The  ob- 
ject of  the  enlistment  was  for  Ramon  to  organize  a force  of 
Mexican  volunteers  on  botli  sides  of  the  river  to  carry  hostilities 
to  the  Confederates.  He  was  to  receive  a third  part  of  all  the 
prizes  captured  from  the  l-oufederate  forces,  or  fi’om  all  those 
who,  although  they  did  not  actually  belong  to  said  foi'ces,  they 
had  manifestly  taken  part  in  the  rebellion.  Ramon,  in  the 
capacity  of  first  lieutenant  in  the  United  States  army,  organized 
a force  composed  of  Mexicans  of  both  sides  of  the  river,  and 
went  to  the  war.  He  attacked  and  captured  a train  of  wag- 
ons. He  subsequently,  and  after  a skirmish,  captured  a party  of 
Confederate  lawyers  in  Rome,  Texas,  and  also  bought  and  cap- 
tured seventeen  wagons  at  Prieto.  In  all  these  instances  he 
followed  the  instructions  of  the  United  States  agents,  to  whom 
he  delivered  the  captured  persons  and  property. 

The  Commission  possesses  no  data  to  judge  if  these  guerrillas 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


69 


caused  any  harm  to  cattle  in  Texas.  It  is  an  unquestionable 
fact  that  in  the  latter  part  of  1862  or  the  beginning  of  1863, 
stolen  cattle  were  transported  to  the  bank  of  the  Rio  Grande, 
and  though  the  Confederate  officers  endeavored  to  hold  in 
their  correspondence  with  the  Mexican  authorities  that  the 
mischief  was  committed  by  said  guerillas,  there  is  ho  evidence 
to  show  that  this  was  the  case.  Tlie  only  well  defined  case  is 
that  of  Guillermo  Yinas,  who  belonged  to  Zapata’s  force,  and 
who,  in  1862,  stole  some  cattle  in  Texas  and  crossed  to  Mexico, 
from  whence  a difficulty  arose  between  the  two  frontiers. 

But  it  is  easily  perceived  that  the  violation  of  neutrality 
of  the  Mexican  territory,  the  organizing  of  armed  forces  in- 
itiated or  accomplished  thereon,  the  fact  of  constituting  said 
territory  into  a basis  of  operations  hostile  to  Texas,  and  the 
authorizing  by  the  agents  of  the  United  States  government  un- 
disciplined forces  to  cross  over  to  the  American  territory  and 
cany  hostilities  to  the  Confederates,  would  necessarily  give  rise 
to  loose  habits  amongst  the  inhabitants  of  the  two  frontiers, 
from  which  nothing  but  evil  could  result.  On  tjie  other  hand, 
even  granting  that  said  forces  should  do  harm  to  the  cattle,  it 
was  very  likely  that  under  their  shadow,  and  pretending  to  have 
a political  character,  bands  of  robbers  should  be  organized,  who 
under  the  pretext  of  hostilities  should  commit  robberies  in 
Texas,  taking  refuge  in  Mexico,  there  to  reorganize  and  return 
to  Texas.  Amongst  other  charges  against  the  Mexican  fron- 
tier, it  is  said  that  even  previous  to  1866  armed  bands  organized 
on  Mexican  soil  used  to  cross  over  to  the  United  States  and 
make  hostile  incursions  on  American  soil.  By  studying  the 
question  we  are  convinced  tliat  neither  Mexico  nor  her  authori- 
ties or  people  authorized  said  incursions,  nor  are  they  blamablo 
for  the  subsequent  difficulties  connected  with  cattle  stealing  in 
Texas. 

The  Commission  has  collected  innumerable  and  sundry 
documents,  taken  from  several  archives,  referring  to  the  re- 
lations of  the  two  frontiers  during  the  Confederate  war,  in  all 
of  which  documents  the  foresight  of  the  Mexican  authorities 
is  remarkable.  They  made  repeated  efforts  to  put  a stop  to 
the  invasions  organized  in  Mexico  against  Texas.  Possessing  a 


70 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


thorough  knowledge  of  the  frontier,  tlie  authorities  perceived 
that  tlie  policy  adopted  by  the  United  States  agents  could  not 
produce  any  benefit  whatever  to  them,  but  in  lieu  grave  diffi- 
culties would  then  arise  for  Mexico,  preparing  evils  for  the 
future,  and  creating  new  elements  of  immorality  (Report  of 
the  U.  S.  Commissioners  to  Texas,  page  6),  which  would  give 
vigor  to  tliose  already  existing. 

During  the  Confederate  war  a large  number  of  cattle  were 
abandoned.  The  Mexicans  left  their  property  and  took  I'efuge 
on  this  side  of  the  river,  some  enlisting  in  the  army.  Many 
persons  availed  themselves  of  this  opportunity  to  brand  all  the 
young  cattle  they  could  secure,  and  at  the  close  of  the  war 
found  them.selves  in  possession  of  great  wealth  in  stock,  when 
it  was  a notorious  fact  that  they  had  not  a single  head  of  neat 
cattle  or  horse  when  the  war  began,  or  their  stock  was  very 
reduced.  But  said  circumstances  were  utilized  besides  in 
another  manner.  In  the  state  of  abandonment  in  which  cattle 
were  left,  several  individuals,  some  of  whom  are  proprietors 
to-day,  or  were  so  at  that  time,  took  into  their  service  great 
numbers  of  people.  These  entered  the  pastures,  made  large 
collections  of  cattle,-separating  all  the  heads  that  suited  them, 
regardless  of  their  brands,  and  formed  droves  which  they  trans- 
ptii’ted  to  the  Rio  Bravo,  where  they  sold  them  on  both  banks. 
Amongst  others  who  acted  in  this  manner  were  the  Wrights, 
of  Banquete  Ranche,  Texas,  Billy  Mann  and  Patrick  Quinn. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  Confederate  war  the  evil  increased  ; 
during  said  war  the  Texas  forces  had  committed  many  depre- 
dations ; several  of  their  officers  transported  cattle  to  Matamo- 
ros  for  sale,  amongst  whom  was  AVilliam  D.  Thomas  (known  as 
Thomas  Colorado).  When  the  war  was  over  and  the  forces  were 
disbanded,  a large  number  of  people  were  left  without  any  occu- 
pation, and  the  bands  who  used  to  bring  stolen  cattle  to  the  banks 
of  the  river  increased.  The  Wrights  had  the  largest  force  under 
them.  Sometimes  'W'illiam  D.  Ihomas,  Billy  Mann,  Patrick 
Quinn,  and  others,  would  combine  with  tliem,  and  others,  each 
would  act  on  his  own  account.  The  AVrights  were  dedicated 
to  this  trade  up  to  ISGb,  this  at  least  being  the  last  year  that 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


71 


one  of  them  made  sale  of  cattle  in  Matamoros,  according  to  the 
knowledge  of  this  Commission. 

But  it  is  not  difficult  to  perceive  tracks  of  demoralization 
which  these  and  other  similar  organizations  left  behind  them. 
There  were  regular  bands  of  banditti,  paid  bj  the  leaders  who 
formed  them,  and  who  received  the  benefit  of  their  plunder. 
The  leader  might  disappear,  but  be  had  shown  them  the  way 
and  h.ad  trained  them  in  tlie  career  of  robbery. 

Brownsville,  and  a portion  of  the  American  frontier  of  the 
Rio  Bravo,  were  for  the  first  time  occupied  by  the  forces  of  the 
United  States,  at  the  latter  part  of  1863;  they  were  again 
occupied  near  the  do\vnfall  of  the  Confederation,  and,  during 
the  intervening  time,  the  United  States  maintained  a detach- 
ment of  troops  at  Brazo  de  Santiago.  On  both  occasions,  the 
military  commander  appointed  commissioners  to  examine  the 
pastures,  to  collect  all  the  cattle  belonging  to  Confederates,  and 
to  transport  the  same  to  the  bank  of  the  river,  subject  to  the 
oi'ders  of  said  forces.  This  proceeding  was  adopted  under  the 
principle  that  the  Confederates  liad  forfeited  all  their  property. 

All  the  Commissioners  had  a certain  number  of  men  under 
their  orders,  through  whom  they  carried  on  their  orders, 
through  whom  they  carried  on  tlieir  expeditions.  Without  de- 
tailing the  abuses  they  may  have  committed  in  the  fulfillment 
of  their  trust,  we  may  form  an  idea  of  the  consequences  orig- 
inating from  such  a situation,  by  noticing  that  some  of  these 
agents  and  their  companions  were  afterwards  very  busily  em- 
ployed in  cattle  stealing.  The  best  authenticated  of  this  class 
of  cases  are  those  of  Joseph  Paschall  and  Jose  Maria  Martinez, 
the  latter  a Mexican  by  birth,  and  citizen  of  Bexar,  Texas, 
captain  in  the  irregular  army  of  the  United  States,  and  who 
afterwards  formed  a band  of  robbers  on  the  Mexican  frontier, 
and  was  killed  by  a Mexican  posse. 

Bearing  in  mind  these  antecedents,  it  will  not  seem  strange 
that  cattle  stealing  should  be  practiced.  There  •were  many 
criminals,  who  had  always  found  refuge  on  the  American  fron- 
tier; to  these  people,  from  whom  Mexico  had  suffered  so  many 
wrongs,  a new  field  was  opened,  where  they  might  exercise 
their  inclinations  to  crime.  Tlie  behavior  of  the  residents  of 


72 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


Texas,  who  tried  to  amass  wealth  at  the  expense  of  others, 
the  policy  followed  by  the  United  States  agents,  who  organized 
hostilities  on  the  Mexican  frontier  against  Texas,  and  the  sub- 
sequent confiscations,  augmented  the  number  of  criminals, 
created  new  habits  of  crime,  added  new  strength  to  those 
already  in  existence,  gav’e  a new  direction  to  the  movement  of 
crime  on  the  line  of  the  Uio  Bravo,  and  the  demoralization 
thus  produced,  was  superadded  to  the  general  demoralization 
prevailing  in  the  State  of  Texas. 

The  war  was  the  general  cause,  but  in  eacli  locality,  special 
causes  were  added.  The  Commission  has  enunciated  those  that 
exist  on  the  banks  of  the  Bravo.  They  convince  us  that  our 
frontier  had  no  participation  in  creating  that  situation.  But 
the  reverse  has  notwithstanding  been  maintained.  A local 
character  has  been  assigned  to  the  demoralization,  limiting  it 
to  the  line  of  the  Bravo,  so  as  to  make  it  appear,  that  the  Mex- 
ican people,  especially  those  living  on  our  soil,  are  the  cause 
and  the  instrument  of  the  crimes  committed  in  Texas.  Befer- 
ence  has  been  made  to  the  ci’iminal  statistics  of  Cameron 
county,  and  by  comparing  former  times  to  present,  an  exces- 
sive increase  of  criminality  has  been  detailed,  the  explanation 
of  which  has  been  sought  for  in  the  tendencies  of  our  people 
to  disorder  and  crime. 


VIII. 

Two  are  the  questions  involved  in  these  appreciations: 
First,  the  general  question  as  to  the  State  of  Texas ; and 
second,  the  special  one  relating  to  the  robberies  committed  on 
the  line  of  the  Bravo. 

Demoralization  is  not  peculiar  to  the  Rio  Bravo  valley,  and 
neither  is  it  a question  of  race  or  nationality.  Between  this 
river  and  the  Nueces,  the  majority  of  the  inhabitants  are  of 
Mexican  origin,  from  whence  it  necessarily  follows  tliat  the 
generality  of  robbers  there  must  belong  to  that  race.  But  as 
these  practice  cattle  stealing  under  one  form,  the  American  pro- 
prietors of  the  Nueces  practice  it  under  another.  Extreme  de- 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


73 


moralization  prevails  in  this  region,  but  by  no  means  greater 
than  in  all  the  rest  of  Texas.  Some  extracts  from  the  news- 
papers convince  of  this. 

“ There  is  not  a single  prisoner  in  the  prison  of  this  county 
(Hidalgo),  not  for  lack  of  criminals,  but  because  none  bring 
their  complaints  to  the  judges.  The  disorganized  condition  of 
the  county  ever  since  the  war  broke  out  ; the  impossibility  of  in- 
vestigating and  punishing  crime  ; the  danger  to  wliich  the  wit- 
nesses are  exposed  by  giving  their  depositions,  are  undoubtedly 
the  causes  of  this  abnormal  state  oi  2iS-d.h-^.'’'’—Daihj  Ranchero, 
Brownsville,  July '6th,  1871. 

There  are  yet  some  disorders  on  account  of  the  lynchers 
in  the  counties  of  Comanche  and  Erath.  A short  time  ago  fif- 
teen horse  thieves  were  hung,  and  the  perpetrators  of  the  deed 
were  arrested  and  tried  by  the  Courts.  * * * State  police 

is  a desideratum  in  some  parts  of  Texas.” — Galveston  Standard^ 
February  7th,  1873. 

“ Amongst  other  proceedings  of  the  legislature  on  the  14th, 
we  hear  that  the  special  committee  appointed  to  visit  Madison 
county,  to  investigate  the  disturbances  that  have  so  much 
alarmed  the  governor,  has  returned  and  reported  as  the  result 
of  their  investigation,  that  ten  or  fifteen  desperadoes  were  the 
cause  of  the  alarms  and  disorders  in  the  county.  Said  com- 
mittee censured  severely  the  district  judge,  the  sheriff,  and  the 
judicial  functionaries;  some,  because  they  sympathized  with  the 
criminals,  and  all  because  of  their  incompetcncy.” — San  An- 
tonio Weekly  Herald,  February  22,  1873. 

“We  have  seen  of  late  several  attem])ts  at  horse  stealing  in 
this  city,  which  shows  the  presence  of  a band  of  robbers  among 
us,  who  must  be  watched,  and  should  the  opportunity  occur, 
be  entertained  with  a small  quantity  of  lead.  We  are  satisfied 
that  this  band  is  managed  by  the  notorious  thief,  Lem  Murray, 
whom,  it  seems,  no  efforts  are  made  by  our  officers  to  arrest, 
notwithstanding  it  is  well  known  that  he  comes  to  the  city  every 
night.” — Indiana  Bulletin. 

“ The  Courier  of  Sherman  relates  a tliorough  slaughter  in 
those  places.  The  existence  of  a band  of  robbers,  organized 
some  time  ago  is  reported,  having  their  headquarters  near  Col- 
linsville. Several  nights  ago  an  officer  called  Keltner,  backed 
by  a posse,  went  to  tlie  place  where  this  band  was,  killed  some 
of  them  and  dispersed  the  rest;  one  of  the  called  Stakes, 

was  killed  in  the  attack.  Jim  Campbell,  Rob  Broyles,  Bill 


74 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


Brewster,  and  two  others  of  the  gang  were  killed,  and  still 
tlie  work  has  hardly  begun.  There  are  some  twenty  more  im- 
plicated, and  it  is  feared  tliat  their  lives  will  he  sacrificed  be- 
fore the  tumult  mav  be  quelled.” — San  Antonio  Weekly  Exjyress, 
March  20th,  1873.“ 

“The  Governor  (of  Texas)  sent  yesterday  (March  2Gth)  to 
both  houses  the  leport  of  Adjutant  General  Britton,  in  regard 
to  the  firing  at  the  police  in  Lampazos.  Said  report  shows  that 
a reign  of  terror  and  crime  are  prevailing  in  that  county,  which 
the  authorities  and  inhabitants  are  unable  to  counteract.  A 
panic  prevailed  alter  the  assassination  of  the  public  men,  the 
inhabitants  shut  their  places  of  business,  barred  their  doors,  and 
waited  with  anxiety  the  arrival  of  General  Britton  and  his  men, 
for  him  to  disperse  the  half  hundred  of  banditti  who  controlled 
the  citv.” 

“ Four  of  the  party  who  assassinated  Captain  Williams  and 
his  men  were  arrested  by  the  Adjutant  General.  The  assassins 
were  oidy  fifteen,  but  they  were  reinfoi’ced  afterwards  by  their 
friends  and  numbered  fifty.  These,  after  the  arrival  of  General 
Britton  and  his  police  force,  dispei'sed.” 

The  report  says: 

“These  men  bear  the  worst  character,  and  they  are  so  dread- 
ful to  the  residents  of  the  county  in  which  they  live,  that  a 
simple  outcry  of  theirs,  uttering  hkle^  is  sufficient  for  all  to 
shut  their  doors  as  soon  as  they  hear  it.  Up  to  the  present 
they  have  been  amusing  themselves  by  unloading  their  six 
shooters  on  the  knobs  of  the  doors  of  those  persons  who  have 
incurred  their  displeasure  by  helping  the  sheriff  or  other  officers 
of  the  county  to  bring  to  justice  the  transgressors  of  the  law.” 
— Galveston  Standard,  April  3d,  1873.  , 

All  the  Texas  newspapers  perused  by  this  Commission  pub- 
lished continual  accounts  of  such  disturbances,  that  by  far  sur- 
pass those  occurring  on  the  banks  of  the  Bravo.  In  order  to 
form  a just  idea  of  this  question,  it  is  proper  to  make  an  abstract 
of  the  message  addressed  by  the  Governor  of  Texas  to  the 
House  of  Kepresentativcs,  on  the  19th  of  last  April,  vetoing  a 
bill  to  repeal  the  act  creating  the  police  force  of  the  State. 

The  Governor,  referring  to  his  annual  message  in  regard  to 
the  police,  said  that  he  had  expressed  the  opinion  that  their 
services  were  still  needed,  basing  his  opinion  on  the  information 
he  had  received  in  regard  to  the  condition  of  the  State;  that 
having  been  advised  that  a majority  of  the  two  houses  were  of 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


75 


adverse  opinions,  lie  required  the  Adjutant  General  to  furnish 
a report  of  homicides  and  attempts  to  commit  homicide  per- 
petrated in  each  county  from  the  15tli  of  January  of  tin's  year; 
that  according  to  the  official  information  received  from  twenty- 
nine  counties,  and  that  received  from  private  sources  in  twenty- 
five  others,  seventy-eight  homicides  and  seventy-two  attempts 
at  homicide  had  been  committed  during  that  period  ; that  very 
likely  the  number  of  such  crimes  committed  in  the  counties 
from  which  he  had  received  private  information  was  greater 
than  that  mentioned  in  the  report ; that  in  tlie  balance  of  the 
one  hundred  and  thirty-five  counties  into  wdiich  the  whole 
State  was  divided,  in  all  probability  the  average  number  of 
homicides  was  greater  than  that  of  the  fifty-four  counties  he  had 
heard  from  ; but  even  taking  this  as  an  average,  it  would  ap- 
pear that  during  the  first  three  months  of  the  year  (195)  one 
hundred  and  ninety-five  homicides  had  been  committed  in  the 
State,  and  following  this  average  for  the  rest  ot  the  year  it 
would  give  the  result  of  (780)  seven  hundred  and  eighty  homi- 
cides during  the  whole  year ; that  notwithstanding,  and  as  a 
consequence  of  the  repressive  acts  of  1870  and  1871,  this  con- 
dition was  better  than  in  1867,  as  could  be  shown  by  comparing 
the  criminal  statistics  collected  by  the  military  authorities  of 
that  time ; but  still  there  was  much  yet  to  do  in  order  to  civilize 
the  State,  and  instead  of  abolishing  the  means  of  juinishing  the 
criminals,  it  was  imperative  to  enlarge  and  give  vitality  to  the 
same;  that  in  order  to  show  the  disorderly  condition  of  the 
State  and  the  extraordinary  insecurity  of  life,  the  preceding 
facts  could  be  compared  to  the  criminal  statistics  of  New  York, 
which  State,  although  it  contained  a city  of  over  a million  of 
inhabitants,  and  notwithstanding  that  in  large  cities  crimes  are 
always  greater,  there  were  only  thirty-seven  homicides  in  1860, 
its  population  being  then  composed  of  three  millions,  eight 
hundred  and  eighty  thousand,  seven  hundred  and  thirty-seven 
inhabitants,  (3,880,737),  when  Texas,  according  to  the  census 
of  1870,  contained  eight  hundred  and  eighteen  thousand,  five 
hundred  and  seventy-nine  inhabitants  (818,579).  Moreover, 
and  apart  from  the  special  crime  of  homicide,  fourteen  counties 
had,  through  commissions  composed  either  of  citizens  or  officers. 


76 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


applied  to  tlie  State  authorities  for  help  for  the  purpose  of  cou- 
trolliiig  eertain  criminal  combinations  too  strong  for  the  local 
authorities;  that  the  public  records  had  been  taken  by  force 
and  destroyed  in  two  counties;  in  two  other  counties  the  crimi- 
nal dockets  and  records  had  likewise  been  destro3’ed,  and  in  a 
fifth  the  cattle  registry  had  disappeared ; that  there  was  a 
desire  to  conceal  this  situation  from  all  those  who  were  invited 
to  settle  in  Texas,  but  it  did  not  behoove  a government  to  over- 
look them.  Said  Governor  goes  on  examining  the  sundry 
means  proposed  to  put  a stop  to  the  evil,  and  concludes  tliat 
the  police  force  is  the  best.  He  mentions  that  the  police  have 
arrested  (5S1)  five  hundred  and  eighty-one  persons  accused  of 
assassinating,  and  some  thousands  of  other  classes  of  criminals; 
that  many  hundreds  of  assassins,  cattle  stealers  and  other  crimi- 
nals had  fled  from  the  State  to  avoid  arrest;  that  fourteen 
policemen  had  been  killed  and  many  more  had  been  wounded 
by  the  criminals ; that  the  measures  pioposed  to  repeal  the 
police  laws  were  contemporary  with  the  increase  of  the  crimi- 
nals, and  that  if  the  police  sj’stem  was  defective,  on  account  of 
which  some  bad  men  were  employed  in  the  police  force,  the 
government  was  dis|)osed  to  adopt  such  modifications  that 
should  give  greater  efficacy  to  said  force. 

This  document  shows  the  grossest  immorality  in  a consid- 
erable portion  of  the  inhabitants  of  Texas.  By  the  newspaper 
extracts  we  have  inserted  above,  it  may  be  observed  that  those 
crimes  have  been  committed  in  such  counties  where  there  are 
no  Mexican  residents,  and  where  forty  or  fifty  criminals  com- 
bine to  control  whole  cities,  placing  themselves  above  the  au- 
thorities. Notwithstanding  our  revolutions,  the  Mexican  fron- 
tier has  never  arrived  at  such  a condition,  nor  are  the  crimes 
committed  between  the  Kio  Bravo  and  the  Nueces  attended 
with  such  circumstances  as  those  committed  in  the  remaining 
portion  of  Texas.  When  the  moi'al  condition  of  our  frontier  is 
far  superi(u-  to  that  of  Texas,  it  does  not  seem  proper  that  the 
causes  of  the  existing  criminality  of  the  counties  situated  along- 
side of  the  Bravo  should  be  looked  for  on  the  Mexican  border. 
There  are  great  centers  of  corruption  and  unprecedented  im- 
morality in  Texas,  and  it  is  more  reasonable  to  suppose  that  its 


/ 


I 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION.  77 

pernicious  influence  spreads  to  tlie  region  of  the  Bravo  and 
tlie  Nueces,  for  the  general  motives  from  whicli  that  corruption 
had  sprung  would  be  necessarily  felt  there,  and  even  reach  our 
border.  To  look  on  the  Mexican  border,  wliich  is  less  vicious, 
for  the  cause  of  the  depravity  prevailing  in  Texas  is  tantamount 
to  reverse  entirely  the  rules  of  nature. 

The  Commission  examined  also  the  criminal  statistics  of 
Cameron  county,  through  the  authentic  data  which  came  to 
their  hands,  and  they  did  not  find  anything  that  could  change 
their  views. 

“ In  the  statement  of  indictments  drawn  from  the  criminal 
records  of  the  District  Courts  of  Cameron  count}',  Texas,  down 
to  the  spring  term  of  1806,”  there  appears  (39)  thirty-nine  in- 
dictments, eight  of  which  were  dismissed,  and  (31)  thirty-one 
are  still  pending  for  the  arrest  of  the  accused.  The  functionary 
who  certifies  the  statement  adds  the  following  note  : 

“ During  the  rebellion  the  records  of  the  District  Court  of 
Cameron  county,  Texas,  from  the  organization  of  the  county, 
in  1818  to  the  spring  term  in  1866,  were  mutilated  to  a great 
extent.  The  above  statement  com|)riscs  those  cases  in  which 
no  judgment  was  passed  before  tiie  rebellion,  as  far  as  any 
certainty  can  bo  acquired,  and  were  collected  from  the  best  data 
obttiined  in  the  spring  of  1866,  and  the  subsequent  terms.  The 
cases  adjudicated  or  otherwise  decided  before  1866  are  not  in- 
cluded in  this  statement,  and  there  are  no  data  in  my  office  to 
determine  their  number.” 

Consequently,  accordiijg  to  this  statement  it  is  not  known 
who  were  the  persons  condemned  and  who  the  persons  acquit- 
ted. The  principal  data  are  wanting,  and  this  must  have  con- 
stituted a greater  number  of  indictments.  This,  notwithstand- 
ing we  have  compared  this  very  incomplete  statement  with  the 
statistical  resume  of  1866  to  1873.  This  resume  gives  the  fol- 
lowing result:  (382)  three  hundred  and  eighty-two  indictments. 
Of  these  (145)  one  hundred  and  forty-five  ended  in  condemna- 
tory j ndgments ; in  (50)  fifty  the  accused  were  absolved,  (102) 
one  hundred  and  two  cases  were  dismissed  on  nolle  prosequi^ 
and  (85)  eighty-five  are  yet  pending  for  arrest  of  the  accused. 

A special  comparison  has  been  made  as  to  the  indictments 
for  assassinations.  According  to  the  first  statement  (8)  eight 
occurred  in  the  space  of  thirteen  years,  and  (40)  forty  according 


T8 


PwEPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


to  tlic  second  in  tlie  space  of  six  years.  This  increase  seems 
rather  excessive  at  first  sight,  but  by  examining  these  data  we 
find  tliat  the  first  eight  cases  are  still  pending  for  arrest  of  the 
accused,  and  the  number  of  those  that  Iiave  been  either  acquit- 
ted or  C'linlcnined  is  not  known  ; whilst  in  the  last  statement, 
in  (18)  thirteen  cases  the  criminals  were  condemned,  in  (8)  they 
were  acquitted,  (6)  six  cases  ended  by  dismissal  on  nolle  frose- 
qui^  and  (13)  thirteen  are  st’ll  pending  for  arrest  of  the  crimi- 
nals. It  is  therefore  impossible  to  come  to  any  conclusion 
derived  fiom  a comparison  between  the  two  statements,  and 
even  more,  to  state  that  in  the  towns  on  the  Mexican  border  a 
tendency  is  developing  to  assassinate  American  citizens. 

Criminality  has  certaiidy  been  increasing  in  the  region 
lying  between  the  Bravo  and  the  Nueces  rivers,  but  not  on 
such  a scale  as  has  been  maintained,  and  this  increase  is  due  to 
the  augmenting  demoralization^  the  want  of  good  (Report  of  the 
U.  S.  Comnnssioners,  page  31)  police  system,  and  to  the  interest 
of  many  influential  persons  in  keeping  up  that  state  of  dis- 
organization. Ilut  we  can  easily  perceive  by  the  message  of 
the  Gnvcrniir  of  Texas,  wiiich  we  have  just  cited,  that  these 
conditions  are  not  peculiar  to  that  region  of  the  country.  A 
Texas  newspaper  says: 

‘■III  ISGi  Texas  had  only  (’22)  twenty-two  convicts  in  her 
penitentiary  ; in  1872  she  had  (h44)  nine  hundred  and  forty- 
four.” — tSan  Antonio  Weeklg  Herald^  Marcli  22,  1873. 

By  comparing  the  two  figures  it  will  be  obvious  that  in 
point  of  increasing  criminality  Cameron  has  fared  as  all  the 
rest  of  Ti  xas,  and  that  the  Mexican  frontier  has  had  no  influ- 
erice  wliatever  in  that  condition.  Causes  which  are  general 
to  all  the  State  have  necessaril}’  produced  consequences  equally 
generid. 

Circumscribing  our  attention  to  cattle  stealing  especially,  in 
ordei’  to  precise  the  influence  that  our  frontier  may  have  ex- 
ercised in  regard  to  the  increase  of  criminalty  in  Texas,  it  is 
necessary  that  we  should  determine  who  have  been  the  cattle 
stealers. 

The  Comrni.ssion  reserving  for  another  jdace  the  discussion 
of  the  charges  made  against  General  Cortina’s  troops,  and  to 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


79 


express  tlieir  opinion  on  the  subject,  will,  for  the  present,  direct 
their  attention  to  the  other  individuals  who  have  been  accused. 
The}’  can  be  classified  in  thefour  following  groups: 

Tlie  1st  group  comprises  residents  of  both  frontiers,  who  be- 
gan to  commit  depredations  in  Texas  since  armed  forces  were 
organized  on  Mexican  territory  by  the  United  States,  for  the 
purpose  of  carrying  hostilities  to  the  Confederates.  Tin's  group 
is  formed  of  Mexicans,  many  ofw’hom  are  either  naturalized  or 
reside  in  the  United  States,  a fact  proved  by  the  several  crim- 
inal proceedings  consulted  by  the  Commission.  As  to  race, 
therefore,  they  may  be  called  Mexicans,  but  they  were  under 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  State  of  Texas  when  committing  the 
crime. 

As  to  Mexicans  residing  in  Mexico,  there  is  no  doubt  that 
several  of  them  committed  robbery  in  Texas. 

On  the  16th  of  January,  1861,  the  local  judicial  authority 
of  Las  Cuevas  communicated  to  the  alcalde  of  Reynosa  that, 
“considering  it  private  duty  of  every  citizen  to  preserve  public 
order,  which  was  being  violated  by  several  individuals  whose 
occupation  was  to  bring  stolen  cattle  from  the  left  bank  of  the 
river  to  the  Mexican  border,  he  advised  him  of  this  fact,  in 
order  that  he  might  communicate  the  same  to  the  chief  of  the 
rural  police  if  he  deemed  it  advisable.”  On  the  19th  of  May, 
1869,  the  custom  house  officers  of  Reynosa  captured  a drove 
of  cattle  stolen  in  Texas,  which  had  been  smuggled  into  Mexi- 
co by  Dionisio  Menduola,  a resident  of  Las  Cuevas. 

Oil  the  10th  of  May,  1871,  the  Mexican  commander  of  the 
post  on  the  line  of  the  Bravo,  Mexico,  advised  the  alcalde  of 
Reynosa  that  according  to  public  rumors  in  Brownsville,  a 
party  of  men  were  being  formed  in  the  ranche  of  “Las  Cue- 
vas,” with  the  sole  object  of  invading  the  ranches  of  Texas. 
In  response  the  alcalde  reported  that  having  sent  a secret  com- 
mission to  said  ranche,  he  had  learned  that  the  residents  of 
“Lis  Cuevas”  hell  property  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Bravo,  and 
for  this  reason  they  crossed  the  river  every  day  in  larger  or 
smaller  groups,  but  the  jdaces  where  such  a band  did  exist,  as 
it  was  of  public  notoriety,  were  the  ranches  called  Yaladeses, 


80 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


Villarsales,  Potrero  de  Los  Longorias,  Laja,  Tepeguagc  and 
San  Francisco. 

The  Commission  based  their  opinion  on  these  and  other  less 
important  documents.  The  Commission  presumes,  although 
possessing  no  clear  data  by  which  to  be  guided,  that  some  of 
the  criminals  classified  in  the  first  group  have  been  living  also 
on  some  other  ranches  belonjxiiig  to  the  Mexican  horde)’,  acting 
in  connivance  with  robbers  living  on  the  Texas  line.  To  this 
and  to  no  other  cause,  in  the  judgment  of  the  Coimnission,  is 
to  be  atti'ibuted  that  the  bands  of  I’obbei’S  should  have  beeu 
able  to  support  themselves  during  the  last  years,  notwithstand- 
ing the  pei’secution  cai-ried  against  them  on  both  sides  of  the 
river. 

2d.  The  second  gi-oup  of  cattle  thieves  are  the  American 
Texans,  wlio,  during  and  after  the  Confederate  war,  formed 
droves  of  cattle  and  transported  them  to  tiic  banks  of  the  rivei-. 
The  Commission  designate  as  comprised  in  this  categoiy  the 
Wrights,  owners  of  Banquete,  William  D.  Tliomas  (aliasThomas 
Colorado),  Billy  Mann,  Patrick  Quinn  and  Charles  KaiT. 

In  i-cgani  to  these  thi-ce  last  named,  the  Commission  ob- 
tained certified  copies  of  five  indictments  by  the  gi’and  jiuy  of 
Camei’on  county,  on  the  1st  of  Maix-h,  1868,  against  them  and 
against  Peter  Marnill.  These  indictments  express  that  said  in- 
dividuals stole  cattle  belonging  to  Henry  A.  Gilpin.  Y.  H. 
Clai’k,  R.  King  & Co.,  which  firm  was  composed  of  Richai'd 
King  and  Mifflin  Kennedy.  Patrick  Quinn  was  not  only  ac- 
cused of  being  an  accomplice  in  the  I’obbei’y,  but  also  of  having 
incited  and  enticed  Peter  Marnill  into  it.  These  four  indicted 
individuals  are  American  citizens,  and  thej’  have  been  and  ai-e 
now  residents  of  Texas.  Several  pci’sons  were  witnesses  in 
these  indictments,  and  amongst  others,  Mifflin  Kennedy  and 
Richard  King  stood  witnesses  in  five  of  the  indictments, 
Adoli)hus  Glaevccke  in  tlu-ee,  and  Dominick  Lively  in  two 
of  them.  The  five  indictments  wei-e  dismissed. 

This  documentai-y  evidence  coiToborates  the  depositions  of 
several  witnesses  in  regard  to  the  existence  of  bands  of  thieves 
under  the  leadei’ship  of  the  afoi-ementioned  individuals.  The 
stolen  cattle,  to  which  said  indictments  referred,  belonged  to 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


81 


persons  who  afterwards  filed  claims  against  Mexico,  alleging 
that  the  robberies  of  cattle  in  Texas  were  })erpctrated  since 
1866  by  bands  of  Mexicans  organized  on  the  Mexican  frontier. 
Bat  our  attention  is  specially  called  to  the  fact  that  Mifflin 
Kennedy,  Richard  King,  Adolphus  Glaevecke  and  Dominick 
Livcl}',  on  whose  testimony  the  indictments  of  the  grand  jur^' 
were  based,  should  notwithstanding  complain  of  having  re- 
ceived injuries  in  their  property,  which  they  impute  exclusively 
to  robbers  living  and  organized  on  Mexican  soil — injuries  which 
Kennedy  and  King,  in  what  concerns  them  alone,  raise  to  mil- 
lions of  dollars.  Patrick  Quinn  and  his  accomplices  had  stolen 
the  cattle  of  these  complainants,  and  they  well  knew  it,  since 
they  could  stand  as  witnesses  against  them  ; and  this,  notwith- 
standing they  intentionally  omitted  to  mention  these  circum- 
stances in  their  complaints,  trying  to  prove  that  it  was  only  by 
the  hands  of  Mexicans  residing  in  Mexico  and  organizing  under 
the  protection  of  our  authorities,  that  they  had  received  injuries 
in  their  cattle.  They  therefore  affirmed  under  oath  facts,  the 
incorrectness  of  which  they  were  perfectly  convinced  in  the 
intimacy  of  their  conscience. 

Kor  w'cre  these  the  only  Americans  residing  in  Texas  who 
dedicated  themselves  to  cattle  stealing  to  carry  their  plunder 
into  Mexico.  In  1871,  Nathaniel  White  took  over  to  Matamo- 
ros  a flock  of  sheep,  and  was  extradited  upon  a petition  of  the 
courts  of  Texas,  who  condemned  him  to  several  years  confine- 
ment in  the  penitentiary.  Besides  these  individuals  there 
were  others  whose  names  were  not  known  or  remembered  by 
the  witnesses. 

3d.  The  third  category  of  cattle  thieves  who  committed 
robbery  in  Texas  and  carried  their  plunder  to  the  banks  of  the 
Rio  Bravo,  comprises  those  who  organized  and  committed  rob- 
bery in  consequence  of  the  commissions  given  to  confiscate 
cattle  belonging  to  the  confederates.  When  these  commissions 
ended,  some  of  the  commissioners  continued  in  committinfir 
depredations,  acting  on  their  own  account.  Others,  who  never 
held  such  commissions,  availed  themselves  of  the  reigning  dis- 
order, and  organized  regular  gangs  of  robbers.  Amongst  the 
6 


82 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


first  we  have  already  mentioned  Joe  Paschall  and  Jose  Maria 
Martinez. 

The  name  of  one  Fernando  Lo|Dez,  a native  of  Bexar,  and 
domiciled  in  Texas,  appears  also  on  the  records  of  the  Com- 
mission in  the  capacity  of  agent  for  the  confiscation  of  cattle. 
The  Commission  has  no  means  in  their  power  to  ascertain  the 
truth  of  this  imputation  ; but  they  discovered  that  at  the  time 
Lopez  was  believed  to  hold  that  position  he  transported  to  this 
side  of  the  river  cattle  stolen  in  Texas. 

Joe  Paschall  was  in  partnership  with  Peter  Mainiel,  and 
both,  aided  by  several  others,  formed  large  collections  of  cattle 
on  the  pastures,  separating  such  heads  as  they  saw  fit  to  form 
a drove.  The  Commission  was  never  able  to  ascertain  the 
length  of  time  Paschall  followed  this  sort  of  life. 

Martinez  was  a captain  in  the  United  States  forces.  After 
being  discharged,  and  after  his  commission  to  confiscate  con- 
federate cattle  had  expired,  he  continued  to  bring  cattle  to  the 
banks  of  the  river,  a large  portion  of  which  he  crossed  over 
into  Mexico.  At  first  he  made  believe  that  said  cattle  were 
legitimately  acquired,  and  to  this  effect  he  showed  bills  of  sale, 
which  were  found  afterwards  to  be  false;  but  after  a certain 
length  of  time  he  was  persecuted  in  Texas  on  account  of  his 
depredations,  and  towards  1868  he  took  refuge  on  our  frontier 
with  his  band. 

His  band  was  increased  by  other  robbers  from  Texas  join- 
ing them.  He  established  a ranche  at  Mezquitito,  near  the 
sea,  in  a lonesome  place,  and  had  there  about  three  hundred 
cows,  stolen  from  Texas.  But  this  was  of  small  consequence. 

At  the  time  Martinez  and  his  second,  Andres  Flores,  estab- 
lished themselves  with  their  band  of  highway  robbers  in  Mexico, 
there  were  other  cattle  thieves  in  Texas,  whose  most  prominent 
leaders  were  Eicardo  Flores,  member  at  present  of  the  police 
force  of  the  State  of  Texas,  and  Pedro  Lucio.  Among  these  were 
also  Pedro  Cortina,  Justo  Lopez,  Marcos  Sanchez,  Severiano  Hi- 
nojosa, Angel  Aguirre,  Kodolfo  Aguirre,  Apolinar  Eios,  Apo- 
linar  and  Kafael  Herevia,  Juan  Sanchez,  Juan  Saenz,  and  Angel 
Vazquez.  These  and  other  individuals  were  not  precisely  or- 
ganized in  a regular  band.  They  lived,  and  are  still  living,  in 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


83  • 


the  ranches  of  Texas,  distant  from  each  other.  At  times  some 
of  them  would  assemble  to  collect  a drove  of  cattle,  and  occa- 
sionally would  accompany  Tomas  Vazquez,  a resident  of 
Brownsville,  or  some  other  individuals  for  the  same  purpose. 
They  acted  also  in  accord  with  the  band  of  Jose  Maria  Marti- 
nez and  Andres  Flores,  who  carried  to  them  horses  they  had 
stolen  in  Mexico,  and  the  former  in  exchange  would  turn  over 
to  said  Martinez  and  Flores  heads  of  neat  cattle  which  they 
probably  had  stolen  on  the  ranches  where  they  lived. 

The  exchange  of  stolen  horses  in  Mexico  for  cattle  stolen  in 
Texas,  does  not  seem  to  have  been  exclusively  practiced  by 
these  two  organizations  of  robbers;  nor  does  it  appear  that  the 
persons  employed  on  the  ranches  were  accomplices  in  these 
robberies.  There  are  some  other  similar  data  in  the  expedientes 
formed  by  this  Commission,  but  we  only  mention  them  in  a 
general  manner,  not  deeming  them  to  be  sufficiently  precise  as 
to  enable  us  to  give  with  conscientiousness  the  names  of  the 
eulprits. 

We  quote  the  following  extracts  from  a correspondence 
dated  at  Borne,  Star  County,  and  published  in  a Texan  news- 
paper ; 

“In  Guerrero,  Mexico,”  says  the  correspondent,  “ 1 was  in- 
formed by  the  city  authorities  that  there  was  an  organized 
band  of  robbers,  whose  constant  occupation  was  to  steal  horses 
in  Mexico  and  carry  them  to  Texas,  where  they  in  return  stole 
horses  and  cattle  to  bring  back  to  Mexico.  The  three  princi- 
pal leaders  are,  Atilano  Alvarado,  Procopio  Gutierrez,  and 
Landin,  the  former  being  the  foreman  of  Captain  K.  King,  on 
whose  ranche  he  has  lived  for  a number  of  years,  and  is  well 
known  to  the  stock-raisers  of  that  section  of  the  country  ; our 
inform(.“r  says  also,  I am  sure  they  have  many  accomplices  and 
co-operators  on  the  ranches  of  Texas  on  this  side  of  the  river 
and  all  along  the  coast.  Procopio  Gutierrez  resides  a part  of 
the  time  in  Texas,  on  San  Bartolo  ranche,  Zapote  count3q  with 
his  adoptive  father.  * * * f crossed  afterwards  to  the 

American  side  and  investigated  the  matter  in  the  most  secret 
manner  possible,  and  found  all  these  things  to  be  perfectly  cor- 
rect. * * * I asked  several  persons  of  the  city  whether 

they  were  doing  anything  to  put  a stop  to  the  robbery.  What 
can  we  do?  they  replied.  Our  sheriff  lives  on  a ranch  twen- 
ty-two miles  from  here,  and  has  not  come  within  the  county 


84: 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE 


for  several  montlis,  and  even  he  Iiitnself  has  aided  in  transport- 
iii"  the  stolen  animals  throiigli  liis  ranche  over  into  Mexico  on 
the  10th  or  12th  of  !Noveniber,  Ko  one  knows  or  can  swear  with 
any  certainty  that  said  cattle  had  been  stolen,  but  it  isi)re6umed 
that  the  whole  or  a part  of  them  were  stolen,  as  the  drivers 
kept  away  from  the  collector  of  customs  and  fi  om  tlic  inspect- 
or of  hides  and  cattle;  and  when  an  authority  of  the  county 
connives  in  the  robbery,  instead  of  preventing  it,  there  is  noth- 
ing to  be  done  against  such  powerful  bands  of  robbers.” — Daily 
Jianchero,  Brownsville,  January  12th,  1873. 

4th.  Under  the  fourth  class  of  cattle  thieves  the  Commission 
place  all  the  vagabonds  living  on  the  whole  frontier,  who  are 
always  in  readiness  to  commit  any  crime.  It  is  certain  some 
of  them  accompanied  the  robbers  of  the  three  preceding  classes, 
but  they  did  not  act  a principal  part,  and  were  rather  co-opera- 
tors, although  now  and  then  they  would  act  on  their  own  ac- 
count, and  in  all  probability  they  are  the  ones  who  had  a 
greater  influence  in  cattle  stealing  during  the  last  three  years. 
Auxiliaries  and  secondary  accomplices  at  the  beginning,  they 
got  into  a habit  of  stealing,  and  afterwards  continued  in  the 
path  they  had  been  shown  by  others  under  whose  orders  they 
served. 

The  band  appertaining  to  this  class  which  had  a more  per- 
manent character  was  that  led  by  Pedro  and  Longinos,  who 
acquired  notoriety,  not  so  much  for  their  particijiation  in  cattle 
stealing,  as  for  their  being  supposed  to  be  in  communication 
and  under  the  protection  of  General  Cortina.  The  robberies 
committed  by  the  Lugos  were  those  that  afforded  more  grounds 
to  the  newspapers  to  bring  eharges  against  the  authorities  of 
our  frontier,  and  for  this  reason  the  Commission  made  the 
minutest  investigations  possible  in  regard  to  these  individ- 
uals. 

Further  on  the  Commission  will  express  their  judgment  in 
regard  to  General  Cortina  ; here  they  will  limit  themselves  to 
the  proceedings  of  the  Lugos. 

They  were  born  in  San  Carlos,  Tamaulipas.  Being  yet 
quite  young  they  committed  a murder  and  fled  to  the  interior 
of  Texas,  where  they  lived  for  a long  time.  The  Commission 
does  not  know  the  precise  time  when  they  returned  to  the  banks 


NORTIIER.V  FRONTIER  oiJESTlON. 


b5 

of  the  river.  The  first  notice  we  liave  of  one  of  them  (Pedro), 
is  that  he  served  as  private  in  the  7tli  regiment  of  cavalry  from 
February  13th  to  August  27th,  1871,  when  he  deserted,  mount- 
ed and  armed. 

It  appears  that  Longinos  Lugo  w’as  living  by  plunder  when 
his  brother  met  him.  They  formed  an  organization  with  other 
robbers  to  steal  on  both  sides  of  the  river.  They  both  lived  in 
Texas,  two  leagues  distant  from  Brownsville,  at  a place  called 
Las  Trasquilas.  Many  witnesses  saw  them  there  with  their 
families.  They  saw  them  when  they  had  stolen  cattle  on  the 
bank,  and  saw  them  likewise  when  they  were  transporting  said 
cattle  to  the  Mexican  bank.  It  is  understood  that  they  fixed 
their  residence  on  the  bank  of  the  river  both  to  facilitate  the 
transporting  of  their  plunder,  and  to  fly  easily  in  case  they 
should  be  persecuted. 

To  this  band  belonged  Manuel  Garcia  Lugo,  Lino  Reyes, 
Macario  Trevino,  Cecilio  Jaime,  Margarito  Garcia,  Geronimo 
Perez,  Secundino  Castro  and  others  whose  names  have  not 
been  pcifectly  identified.  They  lived  in  Texas  on  ranches 
alongside  the  banks  of  the  river,  and  they  used  to  meet  when- 
ever an  opportunity  presented  itself  to  commit  robbery  on 
either  side  of  the  river. 

Some  individuals  of  this  band,  amongst  others  the  Lugos, 
accompanied  Jose  Maria  Sanches  Uresti  the  last  time  he  crossed 
from  Texas  to  Mexico  with  a view  of  stealing,  although 
under  pretext  of  political  purposes.  They  were  persecuted  and 
the  majority  of  them  killed  by  the  Mexican  posses  at  the  begin- 
ning of  1872.  Some  of  those  who  escaped  came  from  time  to 
time  to  commit  depredations,  others  were  killed,  and  ever  since 
then  the  depredations  ceased  on  both  frontiers  in  the  places 
where  the  band  of  the  Lugos  had  their  quarters. 

It  is  worthy  of  notice  that  these  men  and  their  bands 
of  thieves  should  constitute  one  of  the  principal  grounds  of  the 
attacks  of  the  Brownsville  press  against  our  frontier,  assuming 
the  organization  and  existence  of  the  outlaws  was  to  be  found 
there,  under  the  protection  of  the  authorities,  when  said  out- 
laws lived  and  organized  their  bands  on  Texas  land  belonging 
to  Alexander  Wierbisky,  the  present  Mayor  of  Cameron 


86 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


county.  The  reports  collected  by  the  Commission  in  regard  to 
TTierbisky  confirm  that  he  is  a person  of  irreproachable  charac- 
ter, and  incapable  of  giving  any  protection  to  criminals.  It  is 
therefore  to  be  believed  that  he  found  himself  in  the  same  posi- 
tion as  the  land  pi-oprietors  of  those  regions  very  often  are 
placed,  having  to  tolerate  notorious  criminals  on  their  estates 
against  their  will,  for  fear  of  greater  evils,  and  for  want  of 
suflicient  protection  on  the  part  of  the  authorities.  The  only 
thins:  remarkable  in  the  eves  of  the  Commission  in  regard  to 
Wierbisky,  is  his  having  presented  claims  against  Mexico  for 
large  sums  of  money,  attributing  the  injuries  that  he  and  others 
alleged  to  have  suffered  in  their  cattle,  to  the  depredations  of 
robbers  organized  in  Mexico,  when  he  could  not  help  having  a 
thorough  knowledge  of  the  place  where  the  Lugos  lived  ; that 
said  place  was  the  headquarters  of  a gang  of  outlaws,  and 
therefore  affirmed  under  oath  a statement  which  was  not  exactly 
correct. 

By  examining  through  the  general  character  of  the  circum- 
stances of  the  individuals  who  have  been  stealing  cattle  to 
transport  them  to  the  bank  of  the  Rio  Bravo,  we  come  to  the 
conclusion  that  our  frontier  not  only  has  not  had  the  unique 
influence  in  this  aspect  of  the  robbeiy,  nor  in  the  increase  of 
criminality  in  Texas,  but  its  influence  has  been  very  secon- 
darv. 

Leaving  aside  the  course  which  gave  rise  to  this  crime,  and 
taking  only  into  consideration  the  persons  who  have  committed 
the  same,  it  is  noticed  that  it  originated  in  Texas,  and  that 
there  was  an  increase  of  demoralization,  which  was  not  to  stop 
at  the  banks  of  the  Rio  Bravo.  Quite  the  contrary,  it  over- 
flowed into  our  frontier,  giving  vitality  to  the  natural  elements 
of  disorder  that  have  always  existed  there,  and  sowing  in  it  new 
grounds  of  corruption,  that  necessarily  would  fructify  in  due 
time. 

The  depredations  committed  by  the  Wrights,  Patrick 
Quinn,  Joe  Paschall,  and  others,  was  the  school  in  which 
many  were  taught  stealing  in  Texas,  carrying  their  plunder  to 
the  line  of  the  Bravo.  The  band  of  Jose  Maria  Martinez  and 
Andres  Flores  was  composed  of  individuals  from  Texas,  as 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


87 


was  also  a part  of  the  band  of  the  Lugos ; the  hand  wliich  is 
said  to  exist  in  Guerrero  is  under  the  leadership  of  Atilano 
Alvarado,  a resident  of  Texas,  and  a number  of  individuals 
living  in  the  United  States  are  comprised  in  said  band,  and 
finally  it  was  through  individuals  living  in  Texas  that  droves 
of  stolen  cattle  were  delivered  to  the  robbers. 

The  traffic  in  stolen  cattle  on  our  frontier  was  the  result  of 
those  robberies  committed  in  Texas.  It  is  evident  in  many 
cases  the  purchasers  were  innocent,  especially  at  the  beginning ; 
but  when  in  years  subsequent  to  J8G6  cattle  stealing  in  Texas 
was  made  a notorious  fact,  the  purchasers  were  in  duty  bound 
to  investigate  the  origin  of  the  cattle,  and  thoroughly  ascertain 
that  they  were  not  constituting  themselves  accomplices  of  an 
illicit  trade. 

The  conduct  observed  by  Dionisio  Cardenas  and  Nicolas 
Solis  was  the  object  of  an  investigation.  They  have  been  bit- 
terly denounced  by  the  Brownsville  newspapers,  and  the  cir- 
cumstance that  said  individuals  have  been  employed  in  the 
city  council  of  jVIatamoros,  requires  minute  investigation. 

In  regard  to  the  former,  the  Commission  is  perfectly  con- 
vinced that  he  was  connected  in  the  shameful  traffic  of  stolen 
cattle  in  Texas,  which  he  was  in  the  habit  of  buying  for  his 
packery.  It  appears  that  in  1869,  when  a drove  of  stolen  cat- 
tle being  driven  by  Patrick  Quinn  was  pursued  by  the  police, 
they  were  found  in  the  corral  of  Dionisio  Cardenas.  He,  in 
explanation,  said  that  he  had  no  reason  to  distrust  Quinn  ; but 
in  the  opinion  of  the  Commission,  he  ought  to  investigate 
whom  he  purchased  from,  considering  the  antecedents  then  ex- 
isting. It  would  have  been  easy  for  him  to  find  it  out,  as  in 
the  neighboring  town  of  Brownsville  he  could  have  acquired 
all  the  necessary  data,  and  learned  that  Patrick  Quinn  was 
under  pending  indictments  for  cattle  stealing. 

On  the  other  hand,  this  was  not  the  only  case  investigated 
by  the  Commission.  There  are  foundations  to  believe  that 
Pedro  Mainiel  delivered  to  Cardenas  several  droves  of  Texan 
cattle,  which  were  consumed  in  the  butchery  of  Cardenas.  He 
could  not  but  know  that  Mainiel  was  not  the  owner  of  the 
cattle,  nor  was  it  possible  for  him  not  to  surmise  the  origin  of 


88 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


said  cattle.  This  cause,  leaving  aside  the  iiict  one,  is  sufficient 
for  the  Commission  to  form  their  opinion. 

A grave  reason  for  suspecting  tlie  conduct  of  Nicolas  Solis 
presents  itself  to  the  candid  mind.  On  the  30th  of  June,  1871, 
the  commander  of  the  rural  force  of  the  eastern  section  of 
Reynosa  informed  the  judge  that  eleven  heads  of  cattle  had 
been  transported  in  a clandestine  manner  through  the  ranche  of 
La  Bolsa,  proceeding  from  the  Texas  bank.  From  the  com- 
munications written  on  this  subject  it  is  apparent  that  said 
commander  made  minute  investigations  relating  thereto,  seized 
two  heads,  and  that  Nicolas  Solis  carried  to  Matamoros  four  of 
them. 

Some  explanations  are  necessary  in  order  to  understand  the 
true  import  of  this  fact.  When  the  treaty  of  Guadalupe  was 
signed,  the  ranche  of  “ La  Bolsa  ” Avas  separated  from  Texas 
by  the  river,  and  consequently  formed  a part  of  Mexican  ter- 
ritory. After  the  great  inundation  the  river  changed  its  course, 
leaving  on  its  left  side  said  ranche,  Avhich  since  that  time  has 
been  only  separated  from  Texas  by  a branch  of  the  river, 
Avhich,  most  of  the  year,  is  perfectly  dry,  so  that  without  any 
difficulty,  and  by  only  walking  a few  paces,  any  one  can  go 
from  Mexican  territory  to  the  United  States,  and  vice  versa. 

Such  circumstances  have  been  very  favorable  to  criminals. 
Opposite  the  “ Bolsa,”  on  the  ranche  of  San  Pedro,  Texas,  be- 
longing to  an  American  Called  Green  Malstaed,  a pack  of  out- 
laws fixed  their  quarters.  To  this  party  belonged  Cipriano 
Flores,  Desiderio  Villareal,  Julian  Villareal,  alias  Garibay, 
Francisco  Perez,  alias  Cliieon,  Victor  Gonzalez,  alias  el  Coyote, 
Francisco  Gonzalez,  alias  el  Chineno,  and  several  others  who 
are  mentioned  on  the  record.  Whenever  the  Texas  posses 
came  near  the  place  where  these  banditti  lived,  they  got  out  of 
the  difficulty  just  by  walking  a few  yards  and  taking  refuge  on 
Mexican  soil.  If  any  crossed  the  river,  the  robbers  had  ample 
time  to  run  to  Texas. 

The  facilities  which  the  situation  of  “ La  Bolsa”  oftered  in 
the  way  of  security  to  the  robbers,  were  not  less  for  the  transit 
of  cattle  stolen  in  Texas.  They  could  be  brought  from  one 
territory  to  the  other  without  crossing  the  river,  as  this  was 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


89 


done  when  the  cattle  were  already  on  Mexican  soil.  Thus  one 
of  the  dangers  to  which  the  robbers  are  exposed,  from  the  length 
of  time  it  takes  them  to  transport  the  cattle  across  the  river, 
was  avoided. 

Hence  it  is  that  San  Pedro  ranche  in  Texas,  and  La  Bolsa 
in  Mexico,  were  places  of  transit  for  stolen  cattle.  Therefore 
it  is  a legal  presumption  that  all  cattle  passing  via  those  places 
were  ill-gotten.  This  presumption  holds  good  as  to  the  four 
heads  that  Hicolas  Solis  took  from  there  into  Matamoros. 

The  Commission  knew  of  this  fact  through  a document 
found  in  the  archives  of  Reynosa,  but  they  were  unable  to  in- 
vestigate the  matter  for  the  want  of  witnesses,  and  therefore 
limited  themselves  to  state  the  presumption  which  is  drawn 
from  it  against  the  conduct  of  Nicolas  Solis. 

Both  Dionicio  Cardenas  and  Nicolas  Solis  appeared  before 
the  Commission  to  defend  themselves  from  the  charges  brought 
against  them  by  the  complainants  of  Texas,  producing  evidence, 
which  it  is  true  showed  that  some  of  those  charges  tvere  false. 

Nicolas  Solis  was  accused,  for  instance,  of  having  enclosed 
stolen  cattle  in  the  corrals  of  “Saliseilo,”*  and  he  proves 
that  this  was  utterly  impossible,  as  there  are  no  corrals  in  the 
“ Saliseno.” 

Cardenas  was  accused  of  having  bought  one  hundred  stolen 
heads  of  cattle  in  Texas,  by  way  of  the  “ Horcones,”  on  the 
ranche  called  “ Los  Mogotes,”t  and  it  is  proved  that  there 
is  no  such  ranche  alongside  of  the  river.  There  was  a decided 
interest  to  prove  that  Cardenas  w’as  alcalde  in  1869,  \ the 
object  being  to  show  that  he  had  taken  the  lead  in  certain  com- 
plaints made  in  that  year,  by  the  city  council  of  Matamoros, 
against  certain  measures  taken  by  the  judge  of  the  first  instance 
in  regard  to  cattle  stealing.  The  falsity  of  these  investigations 
was  shown  by  the  electoral  votes  produced  before  the  Commis- 
sion, from  which  it  is  seen  that  Cardenas  had  not  been  returned 
to  the  city  council  in  1869, 


• Report  of  the  U.  S.  Commissioners,  p.  17,  Gregorio  Villareal, 
t Report  of  the  U.  S.  Commissioners,  p.  17,  Apolinario  Hernandez, 
t Report  of  the  U.  S.  Commissioners,  p.  28,  Alexander  Wierbisky. 


90 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


There  was  still  a greater  interest  in  stating  that  in  the  tran- 
scripts of  some  of  the  documents  relating  to  the  proceedings  of 
the  municipal  corporation,  in  their  complaints  against  the 
judge  of  the  first  instance,  and  whicli  were  given  to  the  com- 
plainants of  Texas,  under  certificate,  the  name  of  Cardenas  was 
failed  to  be  mentioned,  * supposing  that  his  name  was 
mentioned  in  the  originals,  as  being  under  indictments.  This 
was  enunciated  to  bring  a charge  against  the  Mexican  function- 
aries who  issued  copies  of  said  documents,  and  as  if  to  signify 
that  their  intention  was  to  conceal  the  unlawful  acts  of  Car- 
denas. The  documents  obtained  by  this  Commission  show 
that  the  copies  were  corre'ct  in  relation  to  this  matter. 

The  Commission  investigated  these  and  other  points,  but  it 
is  well  established  from  the  whole  of  their  investigation,  not 
the  innocence  of  the  accused,  but  the  uuscrupnlousness  of  the 
Texas  accusers  in  committing  the  grossest  perjuries.  Their  ac- 
cusations are  grounded  on  divers  facts,  which  are  certainly  dif- 
ficult to  investigate,  but  of  undoubted  truth  so  far  as  Cardenas 
is  concerned,  and  giving  place  to  well  founded  suspicions  as  to 
Solis. 

The  cattle  which  are  brought  from  Texas  into  Mexico  have 
been  consumed  in  the  slaughtering  houses,  and  it  is  safe  to 
state  that  a large  number  of  persons  dedicated  to  this  branch 
of  industry  must  have  participated  in  the  trade  of  stolen  cattle. 
The  Commission  limited,  however,  their  investigations  to  the 
two  persons  aforementioned,  because  they  have  held  public 
offices  in  the  municipality  of  Matamoros. 

Dionisio  Cardenas  was  third  alcalde  in  1870,  and  presi- 
dent of  the  city  council  in  1872.  Nicolas  Solis  was  aider- 
man  of  the  same  corporation  in  the  same  year,  and  justice  of 
the  peace  of  Salisefio  in  1866. 

The  influence  our  frontier  has  had  in  the  robberies  commit- 
ted in  Texas,  so  far  as  the  criminals  are  concerned,  is  evidently 
of  a secondary  importance.  It  is  of  more  importance  in  regard 
to  the  purchasers  of  stolen  cattle,  as  it  is  unquestionable  that  if 
there  were  no  purchasers  on  the  Mexican  line,  none  would 


Report  of  the  U.  S.  Commissioners,  p.  29.  J.  S.  Parker,  p.  30,  Doc.  19. 


NORTHERN"  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


01 


have  been  brought  to  it.  As  to  this  last  phase  of  the  question, 
there  are  two  persons  implicated  who  have  held  public  trusts 
in  Mexico,  but  the  Commission  must  add  that  amongst  the 
authorities  of  the  frontier  of  Tamaulipas  they  constitute  an  ex- 
ception. 


IX. 

But  secondary  as  this  influence  might  have  been,  it  has  ex- 
isted, however,  giving  rise  to  consequences,  the  extension  of 
which  must  be  deflned,  i.  e.,  it  is  indispensable  that  we  should 
fix  the  amount  of  injuries  caused  in  Texas  by  robberies  commit- 
ted there  to  be  disposed  of  on  Mexican  soil.  But  before  we 
proceed  let  us  state  that  not  all  of  the  cattle  stolen  in  Texas 
and  brought  to  the  bank  of  the  river  were  transported  to  Mexi- 
can territory.  A considerable  portion  were  consumed  on  the 
American  bank,  and  there  are  sufficient  data  to  affirm  that 
Adolphus  Glaevecke,  the  same  individual  in  whose  service 
there  was  a band  of  robbers  stealing  horses  in  Mexico,  and  who 
has  been  and  is  now  alderman  in  Brownsville,  is  one  of  those 
who  received  stolen  cattle. 

The  Commission,  in  their  investigation,  believed  that  what 
had  occurred  in  Matamoros  afforded  a safe  criterion  for  the 
whole  question.  The  most  bitter  complaints  have  been  direct- 
ed against  Matamoros.  This  city  was  supposed  to  be  the 
center  of  the  robberies  ; that  a considerable  portion  of  the 
stolen  cattle  were  carried  there ; that  her  authorities  were 
either  accomplices  or  connivers  at  the  robberies.  That  the  in- 
habitants fed  on  the  products  of  the  depredations  committed  in 
Texas,  and  finally  that  her  merchants  lacked  decorum  to  such 
an  extent,  that  they  speculated  knowingly  in  stolen  hides. 

On  the  other  hand,  it  was  only  in  Matamoros  where  it  was 
possible  to  collect  the  most  complete  statistical  data  taken  from 
the  archives  of  both  frontiers.  It  was  therefore  in  Matamoros 
where  the  most  minute  investigations  could  be  carried  on, 
which  would  enable  us  to  form  our  judgment  of  the  whole 
question. 

In  late  years  a commercial  ])henomenon  has  occurred  on 


02 


REl'ORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


both  frontiers,  which  is  perfectly  surprising  at  first  sight,  and 
whicli  needs  some  study  in  order  to  be  understood.  We  refer 
to  the  low  price  of  cattle  and  the  high  price  of  hides.  It  is  not 
unusual  that  the  hide  should  be  sold  for  the  very  same  price  at 
which  the  animal  was  bought.  Heads  of  cattle  are  worth  on 
an  average,  say  five  dollars.  But,  however,  it  has  fluctua- 
ted according  to  kind  and  condition,  rising  sometimes  to  seven 
dollars  ahead,  and  going  at  others  as  low  as  three  dollars. 

Although  tills  phenomenon  is  common  to  both  frontiers,  at- 
tention has  only  been  paid  to  the  low  price  of  cattle  on  our 
frontier,  the  explanation  of  which  has  been  sought  in  the 
numerous  robberies  of  cattle.*  Even  some  of  the  witnesses 
who  appeared  before  the  Commission  have  viewed  the  facts  in 
the  same  light. 

If  the  low  prices  of  cattle  were  really  a true  sign  of  rob- 
bery it  would  go  so  far  as  to  prove  that  the  crime  had  been 
committed  on  a very  large  scale  for  the  benefit  of  the  Texas 
line,  as  the  price  of  cattle  has  had  the  same  fluctuations  on 
both  sides  of  the  river. 

A majority  of  proprietors  in  the  counties  of  Texas  border- 
ing on  the  Bravo,  are  Mexicans,  who  generally  bring  the  pro- 
duce of  their  cattle  to  the  towns  of  both  lines  for  market.  A 
number  of  these  proprietors  appeared  before  the  Commission, 
and  they  all  testified  that  they  had  sold  on  both  lines  at  the 
very  same  prices,  as  low  on  one  as  on  the  other. 

The  firm  of  Woodhouse  & Co.  established  a packery  in 
Texas,  where  they  bought  cattle  from  the  Texan  proprietors 
at  the  rate  of  four  dollars  a head.  So  the  representative  of 
that  firm  deposed  before  the  Commission. 

But  the  statement  that  low  prices  of  cattle  are  the  conse- 
quence of  robbery  is  not  correct.  This  has  been  the  general 
case  in  Texas. 

“ In  several  portions  of  the  State,”  says  the  Texas  Almanac 
for  1867,  p.  197,  “ droves  of  cattle  can  be  bought  at  from  three 
to  five  dollars  a head.”  “ Cattle  {Texas  Almanac^  1871 , p.  165, 
quoting  the  Columbus  Times)  can  be  bought  in  Western  Texas 
at  from  two  to  six  dollars  a head,  and  in  late  years  of  scarcity, 


* Report  of  the  U.  S.  Commissiocers  to  Texas,  Note. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


93 


opportunities  have  been  offered  to  buy  splendid  droves  of  cattle 
even  at  lower  prices.  By  cattle  we  understand  cows,  heifers, 
and  bullocks  two  years  old.  By  purchasing  at  so  much  a head, 
they  can  even  be  had  cheaper.” 

Some  of  the  proprietors  in  the  State  of  Nnevo  Leon,  Mexico, 
liave  gone  to  Texas  to  buy  cattle  for  their  farms.  In  Mexico 
they  had  to  pay  five  dollars  a head,  and  being  advised  they 
could  get  them  at  less  price  in  Texas,  they  went  there  and  made 
their  purchases.  The  circumstances  showing  their  legal  acqui- 
sition are  well  defined.  The  price  they  paid  was  from  three 
dollars  and  a half  to  four  and  five  dollars  for  grown  cattle,  the 
vendors  undertaking  in  some  cases  to  deliver  the  same  in 
Mexico. 

We  arc  convinced  by  these  statements  that  the  sales  of  cat- 
tle or  sheep  at  low  prices  have  no  connection  with  cattle  steal- 
ing ; that  said  sales  were  not  caused  for  fear  of  the  bands  of 
Mexican  robbers,  as  has  been  defended  sometimes,  and  more- 
over, that  the  low  prices  of  cattle  were  not  peculiar  to  the  Rio 
Bravo  region,  but  were  general  to  all  the  State  of  Texas. 

The  true  cause  of  this  abatement  is  to  be  found  in  the  ex- 
cess of  cattle  and  the  want  of  consumers  proportionate  to  the 
existence  on  hand.  Hence,  large  estabbshments  were  started 
in  Texas  in  which  great  numbers  of  cattle  were  slaughtered  to 
gain  the  hides,  the  fat,  the  horns  and  the  hoofs,  throwing  away 
the  meat  or  feeding  hogs  on  it.  The  want  of  exportation 
allowed  such  speculations,  in  which  a profit  was  obtained  on 
the  price  which  cattle  usuallj’’  commanded. 

It  was  not  in  the  power  of  every  one  to  start  such  an  es- 
tablishment, as  it  required  a heavy  outlay,  which  even  on  a 
a very  economical  basis  could  never  have  been  less  than  ten 
thousand  dollars.  The  small  proprietors  especially  were  un- 
able to  establish  such  packeries,  even  on  a small  scale,  and  on 
tbc  other  hand  they  were  obliged  to  sell,  and  therefore,  al- 
though through  such  establishments  they  could  realize  greater 
profits,  still  they  had  to  dispose  of  their  products  at  a reduced 
price. 

In  said  packeries  the  waste  of  the  meat  was  possible  on  ac- 
count of  the  hides  and  fat  being  made  of  avail ; the  high  prices 


94 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


of  the  liides  was  the  cause  also  that  meat  for  the  consumption 
of  the  towns,  should  command  a very  low  price.  The  compen- 
sation to  this  loss  was  sought  for  in  the  hides,  and  this  explains 
why  the  raw  hides  on  both  frontiers  as  well  as  in  tlie  interior 
of  Texas  sliould  command  high  prices,  while  the  cattle  were  at 
a low  price.  In  other  words,  the  scarcity  of  consumers  of 
meat,  preserved  the  low  price  of  cattle,  and  as  they  was  prin- 
cipally killed  on  account  of  the  hides,  the  compensation  was 
looked  for  in  these. 

It  was  the  natural  laws  of  trade,  therefore,  that  produced 
this  situation,  which  in  no  way  was  connected  with  cattle  steal- 
ing. Consequently  it  is  not  from  the  reduced  price  of  cattle 
on  the  Mexican  frontier,  from  whence  it  is  possible  to  derive  a 
general  rule  which  would  enable  us  to  appreciate  the  amount 
of  robbery  committed,  since  we  have  explained  that  it  was  the 
excess  of  cattle  which  cause  the  reduced  price,  varying  from 
one  dollar  and  a half  to  seven  dollars  per  head.  * 

IS^or  can  we  take  as  a starting  point  the  excessive  increase 
of  the  hide  trade  in  Matamoros  to  solve  the  question,  f It  is 
not  the  profits  realized  from  capital  employed  in  speculating  in 
stolen  hides,  which  has  given  rise  to  that  trade,  but  causes  of 
an  entirely  different  nature. 

By  examining  the  current  prices  in  iSTew  York  from  1862 
to  1872,  and  taking  into  consideration  the  fluctuations  of  cur- 
rency, it  is  observed  tliat  raw  hides  are  worth  at  present  in  the 
United  States  double  the  amount  they  were  ten  years  ago. 
This  increased  demand  must  be  ascribed  to  the  progress  of 
manufacture,  which  demand  has  been  from  year  to  year  on  the 
increase,  as  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  from  year  to  year  the 
price  of  hides  has  been  increasing. 

This  increasing  demand  naturall}’  causes  the  price  of  hides 
to  go  up  in  the  places  where  cattle  were  more  numerous. 
Hence  a traffic  arose  on  the  Mexican  border  in  the  States  of  the 
Mexican  frontier  heretofore  unknown,  and  Matamoros  became 
the  center  of  this  traffic,  on  account  of  the  facilities  it  afibrded 


* Report  of  the  U.  S.  Commissioners,  page  18,  Note, 
f Ibid.,  page  19,  Importations  of  hides. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


95 


for  exportation.  The  Commission  caused  the  registry  to  be 
produced,  and  in  view  of  the  books  in  which  it  is  contained, 
they  formed  a “ statement  of  hides  introduced  into  Matamoros 
fro^n  September  \bth,  ISTO,  up  to  December  Z\st,  1872.” 

We  would  not  be  able  to  find  positive  data  in  this  state- 
ment if  we  were  to  look  for  the  exact  amount  of  liides  intro- 
duced, because,  on  account  of  smuggling,  tlie  total  amounts  to 
much  less  than  what  really  has  been  introduced  into  the  city. 
But  if  we  want  to  direct  our  inquiries  as  to  the  places  from 
Avhence  the  hides  have  been  sent  to  Matamoros,  the  statement 
is  then  complete.  According  to  the  same,  the  towns  of  the 
north  and  center  of  Tamaulipas,  those  of  Nuevo  Leon,  Saltillo, 
Chihuahua,  and  others  in  the  interior  all  have  contributed  to 
the  trade  of  hides  exported  from  Matamoros.  Before  proceeding 
any  further,  let  us  remark  that  in  speaking  of  hides  we  refer 
only  to  those  of  neat  cattle.  The  Commission  has  refrained 
intentionally  from  using  the  large  testimonial  evidence  in  their 
possession  relating  to  this  point,  thinking  that  those  statistical 
data  were  sufficient  to  show  that  the  hides  proceeding  from  the 
bordering  States  of  the  west,  as  also  from  some  of  the  interior, 
concentrate  in  Matamoros.  The  commercial  as  well  as  the 
statistical  data  convince  us  that  the  great  traffic  in  the  exporta- 
tion of  hides  from  Matamoros  affords  no  grounds  to  calculate 
the  amount  of  cattle  stolen  from  Texas  for  the  Mexican 
frontier. 

The  Commission  has  formed  an  opinion  on  this  point  which 
is  based  on  the  judicial  proceedings  and  the  registry  of  cattle 
on  both  frontiers.  On  the  20th  of  September,  1869,  fifteen 
proprietors  of  Cameron  county  applied  to  the  judge  of  the  first 
instance  of  Matamoros  complaining  of  the  robberies  they  had 
suffered.  The  judge  ordered  a search  to  be  made  in  the  hide 
stores  and  butcheries  they  designated,  to  enable  them  to  ex- 
amine all  the  hides  and  animals  found  there.  The  owner  or 
person  in  charge  of  one  of  the  hide  stores  refused  to  allow  the 
inspection,  alleging  that  the  warrant  was  against  the  law,  as  it 
had  the  character  of  a general  search,  stating,  nevertheless,  to 
the  agents  of  the  proprietors  that  they  could  examine  his  es- 
tablishment, but  in  a private  manner,  and  not  by  virtue  of  the 


96 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


judicial  mandate.  Said  agents  refused,  and  this  was  the  only 
establishment  of  all  those  they  mentipned  wliich  was  not 
searched.  All  the  rest,  as  well  as  the  biitcliciies,  were  in- 
spected. One  hundred  and  thirty-three  (133)  hides  marked 
with  brands  of  American  stock  raisers  were  found,  but  not  one 
single  animal  so  branded. 

When  the  lamentations  on  account  of  the  robbery  were  so 
frequent  against  our  frontier,  when  at  that  time  it  was  supposed 
that  all  tlie  people  of  Matamoros  were  feeding  on  cattle  stolen  in 
Texas,  and  that  the  speculators  traded  with  the  hides  of  those 
animals,  tlic  judicial  proceedings  promoted  by  tlie  Texan  proprie- 
tors, proceedings  not  only  witnessed  but  executed  by  their  agents, 
clearly  demonstrated  the  exaggeration  of  those  complaints. 

The  statistics  in  regard  to  hides  in  Matamoros  give  a more 
approximate  idea.  The  Commission  investigated  whether  on 
the  ranches  and  pastures  within  the  jurisdiction  of  Matamoros 
there  were  any  cattle  from  Texas.  A large  number  of  persons 
of  different  localities  who  go  about  the  pastures,  witness  the 
inspection  of  cattle  and  their  collection,  and  who  consequently 
have  a perfect  knowledge  of  the  number  of  cattle,  deposed 
unanimously  that  in  said  pastures  there  were  not  and  never 
had  been  any  cattle  from  Texas. 

Other  witnesses  deposed  that  the  heads  of  cattle  stolen  in 
Texas,  as  a general  rule,  had  been  consumed  in  the  butcheries 
of  the  cit}',  and  they  certainl}'  could  not  have  had  an}'  other 
destination,  as  they  are  not  to  be  found  in  any  other  place.  It 
would  have  been  easy  to  prove  the  reveisc,  had  this  been  the 
case.  The  pastures  on  which  the  cattle  graze  arc  open,  and 
they  offer  no  hindrance,  even  to  a person  unprovided  with  a 
judicial  order,  to  examine  the  cattle  existing  thereon.  If 
amongst  said  cattle  there  should  be  any  from  Texas,  it  would 
be  easy  to  point  out  by  eye-witnesses  the  ranches  on  which 
they  were,  and  to  designate  the  names  of  the  ])er8ons  who  held 
them.  The  want  of  such  a proof  confirms  the  truth  of  the 
investigations  made  by  the  Commission. 

In  the  municipal  treasury  of  Matamoros  a registry  of 
brands  is  kept.  It  was  established  to  protect  the  stock  raisers 
and  prevent  cattle  stealing,  or  give  an  easier  means  of  investi- 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


97 


gating  it.  Of  every  head  of  cattle  that  is  slauglitered  in  the  city 
or  within  its  jurisdiction  an  entry  is  made  on  the  registry, 
specifying  the  date  on  which  it  is  taken  to  the  butchery,  the 
name  of  the  owner  or  sender,  place  from  whence  it  came,  mira- 
ber  of  heads,  brand  or  mark  traced  on  each  animal.  By  these 
entries  on  the  books  the  proprietors  are  enabled  to  investigate 
whetlier  any  of  their  animals  have  been  slaughtered,  and  to 
know  from  whom  to  claim  them. 

The  Commission  ordered  this  registry  to  be  presented,  and 
in  due  compliance  therewith  the  municipal  treasurer  presented 
the  books  corresponding  to  the  period  from  September  15th, 
1870,  to  December  31st,  1872.  The  books  corresponding  to 
previous  years  were  not  lodged  with  him,  as  the  treasurer  was 
not  in  charge  of  the  registry  of  hides  before  that  date.  Even 
those  corresponding  to  1870  and  1871  are  incomplete,  not  being 
therefore  reliable,  though  we  have  formed  an  abstract  of  them 
in  the  espedientes  of  this  Commission.  The  only  reliable  basis 
is  the  registry  kept  in  1872. 

This  registry  was  submitted  to  experts,  who  were  persons 
having  a practical  and  thorough  knowledge  of  the  marks  of 
Texas  and  Mexico,  in  order  that  by  examining  all  the  brands, 
and  fixing  the  amount  of  cattle  consumed  in  Matamoros  and 
its  jurisdiction,  they  might  declare  what  number  of  heads  bore. 
Texan  brands  and  what  number  Mexican. 

The  examination  of  tliese  experts  gave  the  following 
result : In  1872  seventeen  thousand  two  hundred  and  eighty- 
three  heads  were  consumed  (17,283).  Of  these  thirteen 
thousand  nine  hundred  and  twenty-one  (13,921)  bore  Mexican 
brands,  one  thousand  one  hundred  and  fifty-seven  (1,157) 
Texan  brands,  and  two  thousand  two  hundred  and  five  (2,205) 
were  registered  without  annotating  the  brands,  or  as  maverick 
cattle,  or  having  the  brands  effaced. 

These  conclusions  show  what  importance  cattle  stealing 
has  had  in  Texas  during  1872,  and  how  groundless  it  is  ta 
state  that  the  revolutions  have  destroyed  the  cattle  in  Mexico,, 
wherefore  the  consumption  of  meat  in  Matamoi’os  would  not 
have  been  possible  but  for  Texas  cattle,  and  considering  the 
low  price  which  it  commands  on  the  Mexican  line,  said  cattle 
1 


98 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


must  be  ill-gotten.  Although  it  is  true  that  public  convulsions 
have  injured  the  stock  raisers,  the  injuries  are  never  tanta- 
mount to  the  complete  destruction  of  the  cattle;  they  consist 
ordinarily  in  the  fact  that  the  contending  forces  take  all  the 
number  of  heads  they  need  without  paying  for  them,  and  with 
great  waste. 

Although  said  injuries  really  do  exist,  however  considera- 
ble we  may  suppose  them  to  be,  it  could  never  be  held  that 
there  were  not  sufficient  cattle  in  the  North  and  center  of 
the  State  to  supply  such  a small  city  as  Matamoros.  The 
Commission  investigated  from  what  places  of  the  State  of  Ta- 
manlipas  the  cattle  consumed  in  Matamoros  were  brought,  and 
the  testimonial  evidence  showing  that  it  was  from  the  estates 
in  the  north  and  center  of  Tamaulipas  corroborates  the  cor- 
rectness of  that  statistical  datura.  The  elements  of  this  evi- 
dence are  the  proprietors  who  made  the  sale§  and  eye-witnesses 
who  saw  the  droves  of  cattle. 

But  the  most  important  proof  on  this  question  is  that  taken 
from  the  archives  of  Brownsville.  According  to  the  Texas 
law,  inspection  is  to  be  made  of  all  hides  introduced  into  the 
State  from  Mexico,  by  the  inspector  of  hides  and  animals,  who 
is  to  register  the  brands.  The  Commission  endeavored  to 
obtain  the  result  of  the  inspection  made  in  the  hides  taken  from 
Matamoros  to  Brownsville. 

Through  the  Mexican  Consul  the  Commission  obtained 
complete  data,  but  in  one  of  the  documents  certified  by  the 
inspector  this  officer  added  a note  to  the  effect  that  said  docu- 
ment did  not  express  the  number  of  hides  stolen  and  carried 
into  Mexico,  some  of  which  were  sent  to  the  interior  of  said 
Republic  for  manufacturing  purposes,  and  others  exported 
directly  by  Boca  del  Rio.  Really,  that  officer  affirmed  a thing 
not  verified  in  the  archives  under  his  charge ; but  let  us 
analyze  this  remark.  As  the  hides  of  cattle  used  in  Matamo- 
ros are  considered  as  national  products,  their  introduction  into 
the  interior  requires  a document  from  the  collector  of  the  reve- 
nue {agenie  fiscal)  of  said  city  issued  by  the  collector  of  cus- 
toms. They  must  be  afterwards  carried  to  the  gate  {garita) 
leading  to  the  road,  and  as  no  duties  are  collected  on  their  im- 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


99 


portation  into  the  intei’ior,  there  can  be  no  possible  interest  in 
eluding  these  formalities.  With  this  understanding,  the  Com- 
mission applied  to  the  respective  officers  for  information  as  to 
the  introduction  of  hides,  and  received  the  depositions  of  the 
officers  whose  duty  it  is  to  issue  those  documents,  the  depo- 
sitions of  the  watchmen  of  the  gates  who  necessarily  must  have 
seen  the  exit  of  the  hides,  and  also  the  depositions  of  the  watch- 
men of  the  custom  house  who  watch  the  road ; and  this  evi- 
dence, diversified  and  complete  as  it  is,  gave  the  Commission  a 
positive  knowledge  that  hides  have  never  been  carried  into  the 
interior  of  Mexico. 

And  it  is  to  be  presumed  so,  when  we  consider  that  hides 
command  a high  price  in  foreign  markets,  which  is  one  of  the 
greatest  inducements  for  robbery ; that  instead  of  the  hides 
being  sent  to  the  interior  of  Mexico  the  reverse  occurs.  Hides 
are  sent  from  the  interior  to  Matamoros  in  order  to  obtain 
those  high  prices  and  a ready  market.  It  would  be  very 
strange  that  robberies  should  he  committed  in  order  to  send 
the  stolen  property  to  places  where  it  is  not  in  demand,  over- 
looking others  where  sales  are  easy  and  profitable.  The  idea 
is  also  inadmissible  because  the  inspection  of  hidesin  Brownsville 
renders  their  exportation  difficult.  Boca  del  Rio  presents  an 
easy  exit  to  all  who  want  to  dedicate  themselves  to  such  an 
immoral  and  indecorous  traffic. 

If  to  the  inferences  derived  from  the  evidence  produced  we 
add  the  circumstance  that  there  are  no  industrial  establishments 
in  Matamoros  where  hides  are  manufactured,  we  must  unavoid- 
ably arrive  to  the  conclusion  that  all  the  raw  hides  there  are 
destined  to  exportation,  and  they  are  actually  exported. 

The  Commission  also  investigated  the  amount  of  hides 
exported  by  the  Boca  del  Rio.  The  custom  house  data  gives 
a total  of  (1,477)  one  thousand  four  hundred  and  seventy-seven 
hides  in  1871,  (798)  seven  hundred  and  ninety-eight  in  1872, 
and  not  one  hide  in  previous  years.  There  never  has  been 
through  said  place  the  fabulous  exportations  that  some  have 
imagined*  in  order  to  exaggerate  their  claims ; but  this,  not- 


* The  report  of  the  U.  S.  Commission,  p.  20 — this  documentary — where  the 
entry. 


100 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


withstanding,  the  Commission  candidly  admit  that  there  are 
grounds  to  presume  that  all  hides  exported  by  Boca  del  Kio 
come  from  cattle  stolen  in  Texas.  This  presumption  is 
founded  on  the  fact  that  before  the  inspection  of  hides  was 
established  in  Brownsville  there  was  not  a single  hide  exported 
by  Boca  del  Bio,  and  besides,  on  the  fact  that  exportation  by 
United  States  territory  requires  less  time  and  affords  easier 
means  of  transportation,  two  circuilistances  from  which  it  fol- 
lows that  there  must  be  an  unlawful  interest  to  deviate  export- 
ation from  its  natural  channel. 

Being,  as  it  is,  a well  established  fact  that  no  hides  are 
introduced  from  Matamoros  into  the  interior  of  Mexico,  and 
that  neither  are  they  destined  to  manufacturing  purposes,  hav- 
ing also  fixed  the  amount  exported  by  Boca  del  Kio,  it  is 
unquestionable  that  the  remainder  must  have  been  exported  by 
Brownsville  and  consequently  must  have  been  submitted  to  the 
inspection  of  the  Texas  oificers. 

The  inspection  went  into  eftect  on  the  12th  of  August,  1871. 
The  result  from  said  month  up  to  January  31st,  1873,  are  as 
follows  : Out  of  (39,450)  thirty-nine  thousand  four  hundred 
and  fifty  hides  inspected  by  Charles  Murphy,  (38,790)  thirty- 
eight  thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety  bore  Mexican 
brands,  (6G0)  six  hundred  and  sixty  had  American  brands,  and 
out  of  these  (32)  were  claimed  as  having  been  stolen.  The  re- 
port states  also  that  besides  these  (7,000)  seven  thousand  hides 
were  imported  from  Matamoros  which  were  not  inspected. 

Out  of  (36,625)  thirty-six  thousand  six  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  on  the  registry  of  Facundo  Cortez,  they  were  all  Mexican 
except  (373)  three  hundred  and  seventy-three  of  American 
brand,  (195)  one  hundred  and  ninety-five  of  which  were  claimed 
to  have  been  robbed.  A notice  added,  saying  that  in  (800) 
eight  hundred  hides  introduced  from  Camargo,  about  half  that 
number  bore  American  brands,  but  of  these  only  (202)  two 
hundred  and  two  were  claimed,  no  one  appearing  to  claim  the 
others. 

Out  of  (27,366)  twenty-seven  thousand  three  hundred  and 
sixty-six  hides  on  the  books  of  Robert  Kingsbury,  only  (457) 
four  hundred  and  fifty-seven  bore  American  brands,  and  the 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


101 


9 

rest  Mexican  brands.  Fifteen  of  the  former  were  claimed  as 
having  been  stolen. 

The  following  is  a resume  of  the  above  data,  viz : 


Hides  exported  from  Brownsville  and  sub- 
mitted to  inspection,  total  number 110,411 

Imported  from  Camargo 800 

Hides  with  Mexican  brands,  including  four 
hundred,  half  of  the  amount  imported 

from  Camargo 102,351 

Hides  of  American  brands  unclaimed,  in- 
cluding one  hundred  and  ninety-eight, 

as  per  last  item 1,436 

Hides  of  American  cattle  claimed  as  hav- 
ing been  stolen,  including  two  hundred 

and  two  imported  from  Camargo 454 

Hides  not  inspected 7,000 


111,241  111,241 


It  can  easily  be  perceived  by  this  statement,  that  in  the 
exportation  of  hides  from  Mexico  to  the  United  States,  Amer- 
ican hides  bear  a ratio  of  less  than  two  per  cent.  It  is  certain 
that  not  all  were  stolen  hides,  as  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  only 
twenty-five  per  cent,  were  claimed;  but  even  admitting  they 
were  so,  and  adding  the  number  of  hides  exported  by  Boca  del 
Rio,  we  would  have  a total  of  (4,156)  four  thousand  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty-six  hides  proceeding  from  Texas,  i.  e.,  one- 
fourth  per  cent,  on  the’general  exportation  of  eigliteen  months  ; 
during  the  first  twelve  of  which,  such  bitter  complaints  w'ere 
advanced  against  our  frontier,  on  account  of  cattle  stealing, 
which  is  made  to  amount  to  some  millions.  In  Texas  the  as- 
sessed value  of  each  head  of  cattle,  is  five  dollars ; but  even 
allowing  its  value  to  be  ten  dollars,  as  is  stated  by  claimants 
against  Mexico,  we  have  a loss  amounting  to  ($41,560)  forty- 
one  thousand  five  hundred  and  sixty  dollars,  during  the  whole 
period  of  eighteen  months. 

In  this  exportation  it  is  not  only  hides  proceeding  from 
Matamoros  which  are  included.  In  the  statistical  data  on  the 


102 


% 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


origin  of  these,  we  can  perceive  that  the  towns  alongside  of 
the  Bravo,  as  well  as  those  situated  in  the  interior  of  the  fron- 
tier, have  made  remittances  of  hides  to  Matamoros  ; thus  ad- 
mitting the  whole  amount  to  be  stolen  hides,  said  amount  rep- 
resents not  only  the  robbery  committed  in  Texas  for  one  local- 
ity, but  for  several  localities  of  the  frontier  of  Mexico  during  a 
period  of  eighteen  months.  And  as  Matamoros  is  the  place  to 
wliieh  tlie  largest  number  of  hides  are  sent,  that  figure  repre- 
sents the  largest  number  of  cattle  stolen  in  Texas  and  brought 
into  Mexican  territory.  Moreover,  our  frontier  is  not  liable  for 
the  whole  amount  of  that  sum  ; we  are  left  to  ascertain  what 
part  of  the  robbery  was  committed  b}"  robbers  living  on  our 
frontier,  and  which  by  those  living  on  territory  of  the  United 
States. 

The  documents  on  which  the  Commission  based  their  judg- 
ment are  authenticated,  the  first  by  Charles  Murphy,  inspector 
of  hides,  extending  from  August,  1S71,  to  June,  1872  ; the 
second  by  Henry  Ivlahn,  and  the  third  by  H.  S.  Rock,  the  two 
latter  deputy -inspectors.  It  has,  therefore,  been  almost  incom- 
prehensible for  this  Commission,  that  from  these  registers  it 
should  be  inferred  that  twenty-five  per  cent,  of  the  hides  im- 
ported from  Mexico  to  Brownsville  were  of  American  brand, 
and  at  least  twenty-five  per  cent,  had  the  brands  eftaced  or  al- 
tered." 

The  Commission  consulted  also  the  judgment  of  experts 
and  persons  of  practical  knowledge,  all  of  whom  calculated 
that  in  1872  the  proportion  of  American -.hides  in  the  general 
exportation  did  not  reach  five  per  cent.,  that  in  1871  it  aver- 
aged from  five  to  ten  per  cent.,  and  in  previous  years  it  never 
went  over  ten  per  cent.  It  cannot  be  stated  that  all  the  hides 
in  the  afore-mentioned  years  were  stolen  hides,  as  it  is  well 
proved  that  in  the  same  years  the  American  stock-raisers  in 
Texas  made  considerable  sales  to  Mexico,  and  they  have  been 
selling  hides  even  of  late  to  Monterey ; but  in  the  opinion  of 
the  Commission  it  is  beyond  doubt  that  cattle  stealing  was  con- 
ducted on  a larger  scale  prior  to  1870  on  account  of  the  bands 


* Report  of  U.  S.  Commissioners,  p.  20.  Where  the  entry  ? 


KORTriERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


103 


led  by  the  Wrights  up  to  1866,  Pasehall,  Patrick  Quinn,  and 
others  up  to  1869  and  1870  ; and  also  because  no  persecution 
was  organized  against  cattle  stealers  in  Texas  until  1870,  and 
they  were  enabled  to  coniinit  their  robberies  with  absolute  im- 
punity. 

The  statistical  data  prove  to  wliat  extent  they  were  com- 
mitted, carrying  to  Mexican  soil  the  stolen  cattle.  The  obser- 
vations of  the  Commission  in  regard  to  Matamoros  which  was 
considered  as  the  center  place  of  robberies  and  of  the  traiiic  of 
stolen  hides  and  animals,  may  serve  as  a rule  to  judge  as  to  the 
rest  of  the  frontier,  which  was  never  judged  so  severely  as  that 
city  by  those  who  complained  in  Texas  of  their  cattle  being 
stolen. 

The  antecedents  of  these  affairs,  all  the  complaints,  the 
newspaper  articles  of  late  years,  and  the  findings  of  the  juries 
have  been  limited  to  the  stealing  of  neat  cattle.  As  to  horse 
stealing,  the  utmost  that  has  been  said  is  that  the  robbers  used 
to  change  their  horses,  taking  fresh  ones  on  the  pastures.  The 
Commission  was  therefore  surprised,  as  they  noticed  that  when 
the  claims  were  presented  in  a formal  manner  an  enormous 
number  of  horses  were  added,  supposed  to  have  been  stolen  by 
Mexican  robbers. 

The  Commission  investigated  the  matter,  and  it  resulted 
from  their  investigation  that  stolen  horses  had  been  brought 
sometimes  to  Mexican  soil,  but  horse  stealing  on  a large  scale 
would  have  no  object  whatever,  as  the  horses  could  not  be  dis- 
posed of ; that  as  a general  rule  horse  stealing  is  practiced  in  Texas, 
as  well  as  on  our  frontiers,  with  a view  to  carrying  the  horses 
to  the  interior  of  Texas,  where  there  is  a great  traffic  in  horses 
and  mules,  and  large  herds  are  formed  destined  to  other  places 
in  the  United  States. 

Some  proprietors  of  Cameron  county,  Texas,  appeared  be- 
fore the  Commission  and  gave  their  depositions  as  to  the  horses 
they  had  lost  through  the  robbers.  In  every  case  in  which  the 
robbers  were  persecuted,  it  was  invariably  shown  that  the 
horses  were  carried  to  the  interior  of  Texas. 

In  one  of  these  cases  which  occurred  in  June,  1869,  there 
were  strong  grounds  tending  to  show  the  culpability  of  an 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


lOi 

American  by  the  name  of  Brown,  residing  in  Au)'as  ranche, 
Xiieccs  county,  who  it  seems  came  to  Cameron  with  a number 
of  men  in  Iiis  service  to  steal  liorses  and  mules  which  he  sold  in 
San  Antonio,  Texas. 

In  another  case  there  were  strong  suspicions  against  Einmil 
Bntledge,  a resident  of  Hondo  Creek,  Karnes  county,  as  a 
speculator  at  least  in  stolen  animals. 

The  Commission,  as  the  result  of  their  study,  have  come  to 
the  conclusion  that  tlie  ^Mexican  frontier  has  liad  no  direct  or 
in  any  way  important  influence  in  cattle  stealing  in  Texas, 
either  considering  who  have  been  the  criminals  or  what  has 
been  the  amount  of  the  injuries  caused. 


X. 

The  residents  of  Texas  have  complained  constantly  that 
the  Mexican  authorities  have  not  taken  all  the  necessary  pre- 
cautions to  prevent  the  stealing  of  cattle  on  our  borders;  that 
the  State  of  Texas  has,  to  the  contrary,  done  all  in  its  power 
by  way  of  keeping  the  laws.*  Xow  an  investigation  has  be- 
come indispensable  in  order  to  ascertain  what  has  occurred  on 
both  frontiers  in  this  particular. 

The  question  relative  to  Texas  presents  four  aspects — her 
legislation,  her  public  administration,  her  police,  and  her 
administration  of  justice. 

The  Texas  legislation  is  imperfect.  It  contains  no  cflica- 
cious,  energetic  means  to  prevent  the  robberies  which  take 
place  in  the  branding  pens,  and  which  contribute  to  maintain  a 
state  of  perfect  disorder,  in  the  prolongation  of  which  the  pro- 
prietors who  give  themselves  up  to  these  depredations  are  in- 
terested. To  commit  these  depredations  they  require  accom- 
plices— men  destitute  of  conscience,  who  rob  for  others  without 
any  ether  consideration  than  the  pay  which  they  receive  ; and 


Report  of  U.  S.  Commission  to  Texas,  p.  7.  Wiiile  the  United  States. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


105 


it  is  certain  that  these  men,  accustomed  not  to  respect  property, 
rob  on  their  own  account  whenever  it  is  possible. 

One  of  the  proprietors  who  lias  distinguished  himself  most 
in  these  depredations  is  Ricardo  King,  owner  of  the  estate 
Santa  Gertrudis,  county  of  Kueces.  He  has  had  as  chief 
Tomas  Vazquez,  accomplice  in  robberies  of  Mexican  horses, 
and  in  the  robberies  of  cattle  committed  in  Texas,  and  Fer- 
nando Lopez,  accomplice  in  the  last.  He  has  kept  in  his 
rancho  this  Atilano  Alvarado,  who  is  thought  to  be  chief  of  a 
party  of  robbers  stationed  in  Guerrero.  They  appear  also  in 
the  dispatches  drawn  up  before  the  Commission,  the  dates  of 
which  are  not  very  accurate  with  regard  to  the  robberies  in 
which  the  individuals  have  participated  who  have  been  in  his 
service.  Ricardo  King  had  a large  band  who  ran  constantly 
in  all  directions  of  the  country  marking  calves,  though  they 
did  not  belong  to  him.  It  is  impossible  to  admit  that  the  peo- 
ple forming  that  party  possessed  any  sentiments  of  morality. 
The  laws  of  Texas  offer  no  energetic  remedies  for  this  evil,  and 
are  insuflBcient. 

The  inspection  of  animal  skins  has  been  established,  but 
this  is  equivalent  to  a wish  to  correct  the  evil  in  its  effects,  and 
not  in  one  of  its  most  important  causes.  And  even  this  law 
has  proven  ineffectual  in  practice. 

Those  in  Texas  who  complain  of  the  grievances  received 
from  our  frontier,  finding  probably  that  the  result  of  the  statis- 
tical data  taken  from  the  registers  of  inspection  in  Brownsville, 
destroys  entirely  all  their  pretensions,  look  to  the  corruption  of 
tlTe  public  employees  for  a reason  to  assert  that  the  number  of 
American  skins  exported  from  Matamoros  were  many  more.^ 
The  Commission  has  no  data  to  calculate  the  exactness  of 
these  decisions ; they  believe  them  to  be  unfounded,  without 
any  other  motive  than  that  of  having  a place  like  the  mouth  of 
a river  where  exportations  can  be  made  with  less  sacrifice  than 
that  required  to  corrupt  an  employee ; but  in  case  of  this 
admission  it  is  proper  to  say  that  in  the  opinion  of  the  com- 
plainants the  laws  of  Texas  against  robbery  have  failed  to 


Report  of  the  U.  S.  Commission,  page  22. 


106 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


produce  effect,  because  the  officials  of  the  administration  pro- 
tect the  seizures  and  robberies. 

Notwithstanding,  on  other  reasons  the  Commission  founds 
the  belief  that  the  laws  of  Texas  are  not  to  be  blamed.  The  rob- 
bery of  shins  there  has  attained  extraordinary  proportions,  and 
continues  on  the  ascending  scale.  With  these  skins  they  trade, 
they  are  taken  to  the  towns  where  they  are  bought,  and  this 
would  not  be  possible  without  the  complicity  of  the  inspectors 
of  skins.  With  regard  to  the  cattle,  the  Commission  has 
already  explained  the  causes  of  the  inefficacy  of  the  laws  of 
inspection  ; the  owners  are  persuaded  that  some  of  them  have 
united  together  and  named  inspectors  in  the  port  nearest  them 
where  cattle  are  exported. 

On  the  1st  of  July,  1870,  a law  was  made  organizing  the 
police  of  the  State.  To  form  an  idea  of  what  this  police  has 
been,  the  Commission  has  limited  itself  to  copy  an  extract  of  one 
of  the  discussions  held  in  the  House  of  Representatives  of 
Texas. 

“ House  of  Representatives. — An  interesting  discussion 
on  the  resolution  presented  by  Sayers,  to  the  end  that  no  as- 
signment bo  made  for  the  pay  and  support  of  the  police  of 
the  State.  Ford  favored  the  resolution,  as  he  did  not  think  the 
State  was  in  condition  to  pay  the  police,  and  at  the  same  time 
to  reimburse  those  whom  they  robbed.  Powers  believed  the 
police  force  ought  to  be  paid  up  to  the  date  of  their  past  serv- 
ices ; but  Prendergast  thought  it  was  not  commendable  to 
pay  ruffians  for  killing,  maiming,  and  assassinating  peaceable 
citizens.  Denton  said  that  tlie  actual  police  of  the  State, 
was  a disgrace  to  Texas.  Washington  diffused  in  the  radical 
style,  in  favor  of  the  State  police.  Smith  of  Coloi’ado, 
thought  the  sum  already  spent  in  paying  truants  and  criminals 
was  sufficiently  larg^.  The  resolution  was  approved.” — Gal- 
vesiori  Three  Weeliy  Nev)s,  April  12th,  1873. 

The  admistration  of  justice  leaves  also  much  to  be  wished 
for.  The  statistics  of  crime  in  the  county  of  Cameron,  from 
the  end  of  the  summer  of  1866,  to  the  close  of  December,  1872, 
in  point  of  robberies,  give  the  following  residt ; 

“The  grand  jury  made  (97)  ninety-seven  indictments,  in 
(25)  twenty-live  of  which  the  accused  were  condemned,  and  in 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


lOT 


ten  acquitted  ; in  the  cases  of  (34)  thirty-four  judgment  was  not 
rendered  on  account  of  a change  in  place  of  residence,  deatli, 
or  nolle  prosequi,  and  twenty-eight  are  still  pending  on  ac- 
count of  what  is  feared  by  the  accused.  When  the  crime  of 
cattle  stealing  is  so  extended  in  Texas,  it  calls  attention  to  the 
fact,  that  in  the  county  referred  to,  the  best  organized  of  all 
those  which  are  between  the  Bravo  and  the  Nueces,  there  have 
been  four  condemnations  yearly,  partly  on  account  of  cattle 
stealing.” 

And  this  attention  increases  when  on  the  list  of  the  par- 
doned are  found  Patricio  Quinn,  Billy  Mann,  Charles  Karh, 
and  Pedro  Mainiel,  notorious  and  famed  on  the  frontier  for 
their  depredations.  These  individuals  were  accused  on  the  1st 
of  March,  1868,  and  the  cases  were  pending  till  the  1st  of 
March,  1870 — that  is  to  say  two  years — and  eventually  they 
w’ere  dismissed  without  judgment.  It  is  to  be  seen  at  once  that 
the  real  intention  is  to  retard  this  business,  and  afterwards  to 
avoid  the  judgment  of  the  criminal  where,  probably,  according 
to  the  class  and  number  of  the  witnesses,  a sentence  of  con- 
demnation awaited  him. 

The  Commission  desires  to  explain  the  irregularity  of  the 
cry  against  the  cattle  thieves,  and  that  altogether  they  not  only 
miss  a good  opportunity  for  the  chastisement  of  the  great  crim- 
inals, but  the  authorities  favor  a bill  commending  the  liberation 
of  the  accused,  thus  eluding  judgment.  It  is  not  difficult  to 
find  the  solution. 

The  class  of  agents  which  Ricardo  King  has  under  his 
command,  for  committing  depredations  on  the  cattle  of  others, 
has  already  been  mentioned.  He  is  not  the  only  one,  nor  are 
the  deeds  committed  all  of  the  same  kind.  In  the  ranchos  of 
Francisco  Iturria,  one  of  which  is  called  Punta  del  Monte,  are 
employed  and  live,  or  have  lived,  Pedro  Lucio,  corporal  of  the 
rancho,  Pedro  Cortina,  Marcos  Sanchez,  Severiano  Hinojosa, 
and  others  already  mentioned  in  the  dispatches.  They,  have 
been  participators  in  the  cattle  stealing,  and  in  connivance 
with  a band  of  robbers  commanded  by  Jose  Maria  Martinez  for 
exchanging  cattle  robbed  in  Texas  for  horses  robbed  in  Mexico. 
In  this  manner,  under  the  protection  of  persons  of  influential 
positions,  there  are  in  Texas  certain  bands  of  immoral  men 


108 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


wlio  aid  these  persons  in  these  unlawful  proceedings,  and  at  the 
same  time  receive  protection.  If  any  of  them  fall  in  the  hands 
of  justice,  this  influential  power  is  called  into  play  to  save 
them,  and  only  those  who  have  not  this  protection  would  be 
condemned.  A minute  examination,  kept  in  the  judicial 
archives  of  the  counties  between  the  Bravo  and  the  Nueces, 
would  be  a satisfactory  illustration  of  this  question. 

A Texas  newspaper,  referring  to  the  same  thing,  says  this  : 

“ There  are  many  persons  on  this  side  (Texas),  who  main- 
tain themselves  by  cattle  stealing.  The  peculiar  character  of 
our  Mexican  population,  combined  with  the  advantages  of  a 
very  scattered  population  and  the  dense  thickets,  makes  this 
cattle  stealing  a very  profltable  business.  Where  there  is  tire 
there  is  smoke.  This  old  proverb  occurs  to  us  when  we  hear 
said  ‘ such  or  such  a person  has  made  his  living  by  cattle  steal- 
ing.’ We  know  they  cannot  be  reached  by  our  tribunals.  They 
have  many  able  friends.  * * * TPe  public  opinion 

certainly  accuses  many  among  us  of  being  implicated  in  cattle 
stealing.” — Daily  Danchero,  Brownsville,  February  10th, 
1872. 

“ Two  men  by  the  name  of  Pancho  Blanco  and  Cipriano 
Guerrero,  were  caught  and  hanged  from  a mezquite  tree  by  the 
rancheros  (ignored  up  to  the  present  time),  on  one  day  of  last 
week.  The  thieves  were  known  by  the  rancheros  for  a long 
time  as  robbers  of  great  notoriety.  Latterly  they  had  engaged 
in  the  robbery  of  horses.  We  approve  of  the  formei' way  of 
disposing  of  all  suspicious  characters  the  whole  length  of  the 
frontier,  for  the  following  reasons  : If  they  are  taken  they  re- 
main imprisoned  at  the  expense  of  the  county  for  three  or  flve 
months,  which  up  to  the  present  has  occurred,  and  they  have 
no  difticulty  in  being  cleared  by  means  of  chicanery  or  by  the 
cunning  of  their  lawyers.  During  the  last  seven  years  * * 

many  of  them  have  been  tried  more  than  once,  but  they  have 
always  easily  escaped,  and  this  resulted  in  their  thinking  that 
they  might  continue  their  business  with  perfect  impunity,  in 
proof  of  which  see  the  numbers  of  this  paper  in  the  last  few 
months.” — Daily  Ranchero,  Brownsville. 

In  these  years  the  robberies  have  been  common  on  both 
frontiers.  Various  documents  prove  it,  the  most  notable  being 
a manifestation  made  before  the  first  prosecuting  judge  in 
Matamoros  by  the  owners  of  fifteen  properties  in  the  county  of 


NORTHERJf  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


109 


Cameron,  to  which  allusion  has  before  been  made.  In  judicial 
writ  of  llth  of  September,  1869,  they  described  the  cattle 
stealing  as  being  notorious,  from  one  side  of  the  river  to  the 
other  ; that  is  to  say  from  Texas  to  Mexico,  and  from  Mexico 
to  Texas. 

And  notwithstanding  its  being  so,  there  is  no  assurance 
that  the  authorities  on  the  Texas  side  have  taken  measures  in 
their  sphere  of  action  to  prevent  Texas  from  becoming  the 
market  for  property  stolen  in  Mexican  territory,  or  that 
the  theft  should  end  there.  It  is  not  possible  that  they  should 
have  ignored  the  fact  of  the  probability  that  those  who  robbed 
in  Mexico  would  do  the  same  in  Texas,  and  the  necessity  that 
both  frontiers  should  prosecute  the  crime  in  whatever  place  it 
might  be  committed,  not  so  much  for  the  protection  of  the 
frontier  as  for  self-preservation,  and  to  guard  against  similar 
evils.  Not  only  have  they  done  nothing  to  remedy  a situation 
so  demoralized,  but  the  indifference  of  some  and  complicity  of 
others,  as  that  of  Judge  Thadeus  Rhodes  and  the  sheriff  Leon 
Estapa,  fomented  the  general  demoralization,  the  consequences 
of  which  have  fallen  on  them  on  account  of  their  own  pro- 
ceedings. 

The  complaints  made  by  the  residents  of  Texas  against 
Mexico,  and  the  form  and  manner  in  which  they  have  been 
made,  and  the  extent  to  which  they  have  been  made,  has  a 
triple  signification. 

Before  1870  there  were  hardly  any  measures  taken  in 
Texas  to  stop  the  robberies,  making  the  responsibility  fall  on 
our  frontier  entirely,  pretending  that  Mexico  was  responsible 
for  the  omissions  of  the  Texan  authorities. 

After  1870,  there  were  established  inspectors  of  skins  and 
agents  of  police,  who  have  been  called  by  Texas  itself  corrupt 
and  immoral  men.  To  wish  that  our  border  should  be  responsi- 
ble for  all,  is  to  say  that  the  ill  effects  of  the  corruption  and 
immorality  of  the  Texan  public  officers  should  fall  upon 
her. 

lA  all  these  years  they  have  continued  to  organize  in  Texan 
territory  the  business  of  cattle  stealing,  that  they  might  continue 
it  in  Mexico  ; and  there  they  have  had  a public  and  ready 


110 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


market  for  the  stolen  property.  The  authorities  of  that  State 
have  taken  no  means  to  prevent  it,  notvrithstanding  that  these 
crimes  spread  on  the  frontier  a great  demoralization,  the  conse- 
quences of  which  are  perceived  in  that  of  the  United  States  by 
the  stealing  of  cattle.  To  attribute  this  demoralization  to  Mex- 
ico is  equivalent  to  saying  that  the  Mexican  Republic  is  culpa- 
ble of  the  increase  of  the  disorder  which  it  has,  in  its 
toleration,  received  from  the  borders  of  Texas ; and  even 
protection  has,  in  some  cases,  been  given  to  cattle  stealing 
committed  on  our  territory. 


XI. 

The  Commission  has  also  examined  into  the  conduct  of  the 
Mexican  authorities,  and  in  some  cases  found  them  inefficient, 
and  in  others  guilty  ; but  in  general  conforming  to  their  duties. 
At  this  increasing  demoralization  which,  from  Texas,  runs  over 
to  our  frontier,  considerably  augmenting  the  disorder  already 
there,  and  which  was  shown  by  the  cattle  stealing,  the  authori- 
ties of  Mexico  were  obliged  to  raise  a dike.  It  was  of  no 
consequence  whether  the  stolen  property  was  of  small  amount, 
because  the  question  was  not  a matter  of  amount  but  one  of 
duty.  The  question  has  three  phases,  one  of  which  refers  to 
the  direction  part,  another  relates  to  the  execution  or  policy, 
and  the  third  is  in  regard  to  the  suppression  or  judicial  part. 

The  difficulty  with  regard  to  the  United  States  frontier,  as 
regards  cattle  stealing,  commenced  in  1862.  From  that  time 
it  has  been  noted  that  the  Mexican  administrative  authorities, 
military  and  civil,  superiors  and  inferiors,  political  and  munici- 
pal, were  executing  orders  to  put  an  end  to  the  robberies  com- 
mitted in  Texas  for  Mexico.  Copies  or  extracts  have  been 
added  to  the  dispatches  of  all  those  depositions  which  make 
known  a constant  system  of  watchfulness. 

In  some  towns  it  has  been  exacted  from  the  importers  of 
Texas  cattle  that  they  prove  their  ownership  by  a bill  of  sale, 
and  in  cases  where  it  has  not  been  exhibited,  the  killing  of  the 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


Ill 


cattle  has  not  been  consented  to,  except  under  security,  and 
with  obligation  to  present  at  a certain  time  that  document. 

In  reality  the  persecution  of  those  who  robbed  in  Texas 
was  a measure  of  self-protection,  because  the  thefts  took  place 
on  both  frontiers,  and  witli  experience  acquired  since  1848,  the 
necessity  of  being  able  to  control  the  deprivation  which  threat- 
ened our  proprietors  with  ruin  was  understood. 

There  Avas,  besides,  a great  personal  interest.  A great 
number  of  the  inhabitants  of  Mexican  lineage  are  proprietors  in 
Texas.  In  Mier  alone  there  are  over  three  hundred  persons 
who  own  cattle  between  the  Bravo  and  Nueces.  These  persons 
are  influential  in  the  places  where  they  live,  and  in  general 
exercise  authority.  As  for  instance  in  the  past  year  the  presi- 
dent of  the  corporation  in  Camargo  was  Eligio  Garcia,  and  to- 
day it  is  Trinidad  Aldrete,  both  owners  of  cattle  in  Texas. 
Their  own  convenience  advises  tliem  to  prevent  the  thefts 
which  are  made  on  the  left  border  for  Mexico,  and  hence  it  is 
a great  amount  of  personal  interest  which  forms  a safeguard 
against  this  kind  of  stealing. 

One  of  the  measures  of  the  administration,  which  always 
produced  the  best  results  on  the  frontier,  was  the  registering  of 
hides,  and  of  animals  to  be  killed,  by  this  measure  making 
public  what  Avas  consumed  in  this  line,  and  so  putting  an  end 
to  cattle  stealing. 

The  administrative  authorities,  who  had  in  former  times  per- 
ceived the  beneficial  effects  of  the  register,  made  an  effort  to 
establish  it  there  effectually,  and  have  been  carrying  into  effect 
the  necessary  arrangements,  Avhich  they  have  reformed  accord- 
ing to  their  experience,  and  have  shown  the  greatest  interest  in 
obtaining  a happy  result. 

NotAvithstanding  there  has  been  an  exceptional  case,  in 
which  all  has  not  been  obtained  AA’hich  Avas  necessary  to  regu- 
late this  branch,  and  in  which  omissions  have  been  made,  which 
the  Commission  could  not  pass  over  Avithout  notice. 

The  archives  of  the  register  of  hides  in  Matamoros  before 
the  16th  of  September,  1870,  have  been  lost,  and  the  same  has 
happened  to  the  archives  of  the  register  of  animals  killed  pre- 
vious to  1872. 


112  ' 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


The  reason  for  this  is,  that  every  year  a new  recorder  has 
been  appointed  in  charge  of  the  registers,  of  which  properly 
speaking  no  books  were  kept,  and  that  the  appointed  one,  on 
leaving  his  business,  took  no  care  of  the  notes  which  he  or 
his  agents  had  made. 

These  irregularities  continued  up  to  September,  1870,  when 
this  business  was  transferred  to  the  municipal  treasury  ; some 
months  after,  wardens  were  appointed  at  the  toll  gates  for  the 
purpose  of  inspecting  imported  hides  ; there  was  besides  a special 
commissioner  of  butcheries,  belonging  to  the  treasury  already 
mentioned,  and  every  one  of  the  employees  has  kept  a book, 
the  collection  of  which  was  shown  before  the  Commission. 

In  this  there  is  nothing  to  oppose  the  law  regulations,  and 
we  believe  to  the  contrary,  that  if  strictly  complied  with,  it 
will  be  a complete  guaranty  against  theft;  but  the  same  can- 
not be  said  with  regard  to  the  application  of  them.  Tlie  reg- 
ister ought  to  embrace  the  slaughtered  cattle  consumed  in  Ma- 
taraoros,  and  the  hides  of  the  cattle  consumed  in  the  jurisdic- 
tion ; the  first  are  inspected  on  entering  the  slaughter  pen  ; the 
second,  on  passing  the  toll  gate  to  be  sold  in  the  city.  It 
does  not  appear  that  either  has  been  strictly  complied  with. 

The  missing  register  of  cattle  killed  in  the  city  of  Mata- 
moros,  before  1872,  that  is  to  say,  from  the  15th  of  September, 
1870,  to  the  31st  of  December,  1871,  destroys  the  principal 
guaranty  of  the  proprietors  in  the  investigation  of  tlie  theft. 
Is  ot  to  make  the  inspections,  not  to  take  care  of  the  books  in 
which  they  are  kept,  and  not  to  find  them  when  they  are  re- 
quired to  be  examined,  are  one  and  the  same  thing. 

To  this  another  iiTcgularity  is  added  ; in  the  year  1872, 
appear  (2,205)  two  thousand  two  hundred  and  five  hides  not 
registered,  tlie  largest  number  of  which  svere  introduced 
through  the  Guadalupe  toll  gate;  they  came  from  the  ranchos 
of  the  jurisdiction  of  Matamoros,  and  consequently  the  neces- 
sity of  a branding  register  was  felt.  Some  of  these,  though 
the  smallest  number,  were  registered  as  maverick,  or  their 
marks  could  not  be  identified  ; but  almost  the  whole  lot  had  no 
entry  whatever  on  the  register ; and  there  was  a month,  as  for 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


113 


instance  the  month  of  May,  in  which  were  discovered  (535)  live 
hundred  and  thirty-five  skins  that  had  not  been  registered. 

The  series  of  orders  issued  in  Matainoros  since  1866,  on 
this  subject,  indicates  the  desire  to  establish  the  register  of 
hides  in  terms  adequate  to  its  object,  but  in  its  practice 
there  has  not  been  tlie  interest  necessary  to  realize  the  vieM^s 
contained  in  the  precautions. 

Notwithstanding  this  want  of  solicitude,  the  general,  char- 
acter of  the  administrative  authorities  has  had  a tendency  to 
look  for  some  remedy  against  the  evils,  and  not  only  they,  but 
also  the  judicial  functionaries  had  the  same  inclination.  At 
the  same  time  that  the  former  attended  with  its  regulations 
to  that  situation,  the  latter  procured  the  punishment  of  the 
guilty  and  the  restoration  of  the  stolen  property  to  their  owners 
with  the  least  possible  difficulty. 

Amongst  the  various  cases  which  came  to  the  notice  of  the 
Commission,  there  are  some  which  were  initiated  for  the  prose- 
cution by  the  Mexican  authorities,  as  soon  as  they  had  received 
the  slightest  notice  that  there  was  passing  or  had  passed  a 
herd  of  cattle  robbed  in  Texas.  Once  in  a while  the  guilty 
were  discovered  and  chastised,  and  in  many  other  instances, 
now  by  the  watchfulness  of  the  custom  house  officers  and  the 
police,  now  through  the  strength  of  the  residents,  herds  of 
stolen  cattle  were  captured,  and  in  all  cases  were  returned  to 
their  owners  if  they  were  claimed  either  by  themselves  or 
through  their  attorneys,  and  those  not  claimed  were  sold  and 
the  proceeds  deposited.  And  it  is  to  be  understood  that  in  the 
generality  of  these  cases  they  proceeded  with  such  rapidity  that 
sometimes  between  the  capture  and  delivery  to  their  owners 
they  did  not  take  twenty-five  hours,  and  in  many  cases  this  was 
done  on  the  same  day,  and  sometimes  within  an  hour.  The 
only  proofs  exacted  were  the  attestation  of  personality,  if  the 
owners  claimed  through  their  attorneys,  and  the  identification 
of  the  brand.  Not  even  a ]mwer  of  attorney  w’as  exacted  in 
form  when  it  occurred  that  the  agents  were  creditable  persons. 
No  cost  was  required  because  the  judges  themselves  simplified 
the  proceeding,  and  placing  it  in  the  reach  of  all,  made  unneces- 
sary the  help  of  lawyers. 

3 


114 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


The  extracts  of  the  criminal  cases  and  the  declaration  of 
some  who  have  been  judges,  and  of  various  agents  of  property 
holders  in  Texas,  show  that  this  has  been  the  general  spirit  of 
the  tribunals  on  the  frontier  of  Tamaulipas. 

Notwithstanding,  they  have  managed  to  create  a contrary 
impression,  for  instance,  a judge  of  Camargo  has  been  accused 
of  having  refused  to  return  a herd  of  stolen  cattle  to  some 
agents  of  the  Texas  police  who  presented  themselves  laying 
claim  to  it.*  One  of  the  newspapers  which  availed  itself  of  this 
incident  to  accuse  the  Mexican  authorities  of  being  implicated 
in  the  theft,  gave  itself  the  answer  shortly  afterwards  : 

“ It  is  just  to  observe,”  it  says,  “ that  the  judge  of  Camargo 
was  disposed  to  do  it ; he  is  ready  to  give  up  any  property  to  an 
American  provided  that  he  can  prove  his  right  to  it.” — The 
Sentinel,  Brownsville,  January  27,  1871. 

In  the  judgment  of  the  Commission  the  judge  of  Camargo 
complied  with  his  duty.  Two  unknown  persons  presented 
themselves,  without  proving  a right,  with  the  character  of  Texas 
police,  but  who  were  not  accredited  by  our  authorities.  These 
proceeded  discreetly  in  not  acknowledging  their  pretensions  to 
receive  the  property  stolen  in  Texas  and  seized  in  Camargo. 
Sometime  before  Patricio  Quinn,  feigning  to  be  agent  of  pro- 
prietors in  Texas,  came  to  the  Mexican  authorities  and  asked 
for  the  delivery  of  some  cattle  stolen  on  United  States  territory, 
brought  by  him  to  Mexico,  and  captured  by  the  police  from 
Quinn’s  accomplices. 

The  Commission  has  been  detained  in  this  case  because  it  is 
one  which  characterizes  the  nature  of  the  accusations  directed 
against  our  authorities.  The  spirit  of  justice  has,  however, 
been  ^so  general  in  the  tribunals  that  there  have  been  no  ex- 
ceptions. 

On  the  19th  of  March,  1872,  were  captured  Gabriel  Tre- 
vino and  six  others  with  twenty-three  cattle  of  Texas  brands, 
and  a suit  was  brought  against  them  for  cattle  stealing.  On 
the  1st  of  April,  1872,  were  seized  Andres  Y.  Hermenegildo 
Holguin,  on  the  plains  of  Santa  Fe,  with  a herd  of  cattle  stolen 


Report  of  the  U.  S.  Cominissioners  to  Texas,  page  12.  William  Burke. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


115 


in  Texas,  and  criminal  proceedings  were  also  instituted  against 
them.  Tliere  was  this  in  particular,  in  the  first  of  these  cases, 
that  it  resisted  the  police  force. 

The  cattle  Avere  returned  to  their  owners  in  the  way  shown 
by  the  Commission,  but  they  did  not  proceed  with  equal 
justice  in  the  chastisement  of  the  criminals.  The  first  prose- 
cuting judge  of  the  IMorthern  District,  lawyer  Trinidad  Gon- 
zalez Doria,  not  only  liberated  them,  but  what  is  worthy  of 
especial  attention,  he  proceeded  to  dispose  of  the  case  Avithout 
the  slightest  kind  of  judicial  decree,  leaAung  the  expediente 
unfinished.  It  is  not  necessary  that  the  Commission  .should 
enter  into  the  particulars  of  all  the  iinmprality  in  such  conduct. 
It  is  sufficiently  plain  e^mn  for  those  not  familiar  with  crim- 
inal proceedings,  and  this  procedure  is  ev'en  more  condemnable 
Avhen  coming  from  the  judge  whose  jurisdiction  embraced  the 
most  important  civil  and  criminal  business  of  the  Korthern 
District  of  Tamaulipas.  If,  in  his  judgment,  the  Mexican  tri- 
bunals were  not  competent  to  chastise  the  crime,  the  laAvs 
had  provided  a mode  of  proceeding  which  the  Commission 
could  not  have  reproved,  even  if  the  judge  so  thought,  how- 
ev'er  it  might  have  been  dissatisfied  with  them.  What  the 
Commission  censures  is  the  violation  of  the  criminal  proceed- 
•ings  by  liberating  the  accused  Avhose  trials  were  pending,  with- 
out passing  judgment  on  them,  and  postponing  them  in- 
definitely. 

But  just  as  the  Commission  has  thought  it  to  be  its  duty 
to  condemn  the  judge  in  the  former  case,  they  consider  them- 
selves also  obliged  to  give  judgment  favorable  to  the  Mexican 
authorities,  in  an  act  which  took  place  in  Matamoros  at  the 
close  of  1869,  to  which  the  complainants  in  Texas  give  excep- 
tional importance.* 

On  the  2j:th  of  September,  1869,  fifteen  proprietors  of  the 
county  of  Cameron  came  to  the  first  prosecuting  judge  of  the 
northern  district  of  Tamaulipas,  lawyer  Agustin  Meuchaca, 
complaining  of  the  robberies  from  Avhich  their  interests  were 
suffering.  Afterwards  the  agents  of  these  proprietors  Avere 


Report  of  the  U.  S.  Commissioners  to  Texas,  page  24. 


IIEPOKT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


iia 

Henry  Klahn  and  L.  Shedd,  and  since  then  it  lias  become 
known  that  these  were  not  only  their  rejiresentatives  but  that 
they  derived  their  nominations  from  the  Texas  authorities  ; sub- 
sequent revelations  have  shown  that  the  judge  of  Brownsville 
had  nominated  them  tliat  they  might  live  in  Matamoros,  and 
to  act  as  inspectors  of  animals*  and  hides  with  a view  of  sup- 
pressing the  theft.  There  would  have  been  nothing  especial  in 
this  if  they  had  limited  themselves  to  private  agencies,  but 
they  pretended  that  our  authorities  had  upheld  them,  and  the 
resistance  which  they  met  has  furnished  material  for  subse- 
quent accusations.  It  is  sufficient  to  announce  the  act  to  be 
able  to  appreciate  tlie  excessive  pretensions  of  the  Brownsville 
autliorities. 

The  first  step  taken  was  to  ask  for  an  examination  of  the 
packeries  and  butcheries,  with  a view  to  find  out  if  there  were  any 
stolen  skins  or  cattle.  The  order  was  solicited  from  the  first 
prosecuting  judge,  who  ordered  Klahn  and  Shedd,  assisted  by  the 
police,  to  identify  tlie  skins  and  cattle  enclosed  in  those  estab- 
lishments. Being  prohibited  by  the  law  from  making  general 
inquiries  with  regard  to  crimes  and  delinquencies,  there  is  no 
doubt  that  the  judge  already  mentioned  did  more  than  was 
permitted. 

All  the  places  mentioned  were  examined  by  Henry  Klahn- 
and  L.  Shedd  with  the  exception  of  one,  whose  owner  opposed 
the  carrying  out,  on  his  property,  of  the  order  of  the  judge; 
alleging,  for  a reason,  that  it  was  unconstitutional,  and  that 
general  inquiries  were  against  all  law ; that  if  any  one 
thought  he  had  stolen  hides  they  should,  tormalize  their 
accusation,  so  that  in  case  of  the  result  proving  this  to  be  false, 
he  might  claim  damages  and  injury  against  the  accuser;  that 
he  would  not  consent  to  his  establishment  being  searched  with- 
out their  first  showing  an  order  to  this  effect,  in  conformity 
with  article  16  of  the  constitution.  In  this  proceeding  the 
Commission  found  nothing  to  be  reproached.  The  law  gives 
the  right  to  proclaim  these  errors  before  the  authorities  that 
they  may  amend  them. 


Report  of  the  U.  S.  Commissioners,  pajje  29.  Henry  Klahn. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


117 


But  the  same  individual  who  made  this  opposition,  went 
further.  He  was  alderman  (Regidor)  of  the  council  of  Mat- 
amoros,  and  called  an  extra  session,  which  was  held  on  the  25th 
of  October,  18G9.  After  putting  forward  the  complaints  against 
the  first  prosecuting  judge,  and  among  them  that  relative  to 
the  general  inquiry  which  the  latter  liad  ordered,  founded  on 
the  14th  article  of  the  laws  of  the  council,  he  asked  that  a 
Commission  might  be  formed,  composed  of  the  aldermen,  to 
assist  the  lirst  judge  in  the  investigation  which  would  be 
raised  with  regard  to  the  truth  of  the  acts  which  were  known, 
and  also  upon  others  which  might  have  been  committed  by  the 
^id  judge,  and  if  these  acts  were  justified  by  the  result,  the 
information  would  be  conveyed  to  tlie  State  CTOvernment.  In 
these  proceedings  of  the  council,  there  was  an  excess ; the 
municipal  coporation  had  the  right  to  accuse  the  judge  if  they 
believed  him  responsible,  but  it  was  not  lawful  to  raise  inform- 
ation similar  to  that  introduced. 

And  so  there  was  an  excess  in  the  Brownsville  authorities 
naming  agents,  with  the  purpose  of  being  upheld  by  ours,  that 
they  might  establish  in  Matamoros,  officers  to  inspect  hides ; it 
was  on  account  of  the  co-operation  of  the  first  prosecuting^ 
judge  that  they  decided  that  Klahn  and  Shedd,  assisted  by  the 
police,  should  inspect  all  the  packeries  and  butcheries,  resolving 
in  the  council  to  raise  information  on  the  proceedings  of  the 
judge,  to  be  conveyed  to  the  State  Government. 

In  the  conflict  Avhich  ensued  between  the  first  prosecuting 
judge  and  the  council  of  Matamoros  there  Avas  an  object.  The 
complainants  of  Texas  have  endeavored  to  shoAV  this,  seeking 
in  it  a reason  against  our  authorities,  supposing  there  is  in  them 
a desire  to  resist  Avhat  would  procure  the  suppression  of  cattle 
stealing.  They  haA^ebeen  given  to  understand  that  the  resistance 
to  the  examination  of  the  hides  already  mentioned,  arises  from 
the  desire  to  conceal  hides  illy  acquired,  saying  that  the  citizens 
of  Matamoros  showed  themselves  so  indignant  against  Judge 
Menehaca,  OAving  to  his  efforts  to  comply  Avith  the  laAvs 
and  chastise  the  crime,  that  the  city  council  adopted  resolutions 
addressed  to  the  supreme  government  of  the  State  of  Taman- 
lipas,  asking  the  removal  or  impeachment  of  Judge  Menehaca, 


118 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


which  obliged  him  to  resign  and  take  refuge  in  Europe ; and 
that  Judge  Menchaca  was  succeeded  hy  Pedro  Hinojosa, 
who  privately  made  known  to  Klahn  that  he  could  not  upliold 
him,  by  reason  of  which  the  latter  found  himself  obliged  to 
abandon  his  mission  and  return  to  Texas.  To  arrive  at  these 
conclusions  the  complainants  on  the  banks  of  tlie  Bravo  have 
related  the  facts,  omitting  important  details  and  using  incom- 
plete documents,  Avithholding  all  that  would  have  character- 
ized the  atfair  in  its  true  light. 

The  owner  of  tlie  hides  on  opposing  the  judicial  order  told 
the  agents,  Klahn  and  Shedd,  that  his  resistance  was  not  made 
with  the  object  of  concealing  stolen  property  ; that  they  might 
on  this  or  any  other  occasion  examine  the  establishment  and 
skins  found  in  it,  but  that  this  should  be  in  a private  character, 
and  in  no  case  in  compliance  with  a judicial  order  contrary  to 
the  laws.  The  agents  Klahn  and  Shedd  refusec^the  offer. 

The  owner  of  the  hide  establishment,  not  satisfied  with 
having  made  the  ofier,  when  these  orders  were  being  execiited 
and  whilst  his  establishment  was  closely  watched  by  police  that 
no  skins  should  be  extracted  therefrom,  reiterated  his  ofier  in 
the  presence  of  several  persons,  and  among  them  the  United 
States  Vice  Consul  at  Vatamoros.  All  these  persons  appeared 
before  the  Commission  and  deposed  that  it  was  so.  Mr.  Lucas 
Avery,  Vice  Consul  in  1869,  said  that  “ All  met  together  ^at 
the  house  of  Klahn  and  Shedd,  and  that  the  witness  heard  Mr. 
Manauton  (owner  of  the  establishment)  say  to  them  that  he 
was  disposed  to  have  them  visit  it  and  inspect  it  to  their  entire 
satisfaction  with  the  hides  contained  in  it,  with  the  understand- 
ing that  this  ofier  was  merely  voluntary  and  friendly,  and  not 
as  the  result  of  the  judicial  order,  not  recognizing  in  the  au- 
thority tliat  dictated  it  the  right  to  do  so ; it  was  sufficient 
that  the  said  order  was  contrary  to  the  Mexican  laws.”  The 
witness  heard  Mr.  Klahn  answer  that  lie  was  much  obliged  for 
the  ofifer,  but  that  in  accordance  with  his  duties  he  could  not 
accept  it,  because  he  and  his  partner,  Mr.  Shedd,  desired  above 
all  things  to  establish  as  a precedent  for  similar  cases  the  one 
then  pending,  that  the  American  cattle  breeders  might,  with 
the  intervention  of  the  authorities,  practice  general  searches  in 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


119 


quest  of  such  hides  as  had  American  brands.  To  this  Manauton 
replied,  that  in  no  case  would  he  allow  a search  into  his  es- 
tablishment unless  the  law  so  determined  it,  and  unless,  too, 
the  warrant  ordering  the  search  should  be  based  on  the  legal 
grounds  provided  by  the  law. 

All  these  circumstances  have  been  carefully  concealed  by 
Henry  Klahn  when,  to  corroborate  the  complaints  of  the  resi- 
dents of  Texas,  he  undertook  to  explain  the  action  of  the 
Mexican  authorities  in  1869.*  He,  without  any  doubt,  with- 
held said  circumstances  because  it  would  have  been  apparent 
from  them  that  there  was  no  purpose  at  all  to  conceal  the  stolen 
hides,  and  no  obstacle  to  prevent  him  from  carrying  into  effect 
the  inspection  ; but  there  certainly  was  a refusal  to  allow, 
under  the  pretext  of  said  inspection,  a violation  of  individual 
rights,  an  undue  intervention  on  the  part  of  the  Brownsville 
authorities  and  of  the  proprietors  in  Texas,  and  that  our 
judicial  functionaries  should  become  accomplices  to  both  irreg- 
idarities.  Mr.  Klahn,  in  keeping  silent  upon  all  these  circum- 
stances, which  would  have  cleared  their  conduct,  and  in  acting 
sc  as  to  show  their  conduct  in  a different  light,  has,  under  oath, 
affirmed  that  which  was  not  strictly  true. 

The  proceedings  of  the  council  of  Mataiuoros  were  not 
arrested  by  anything  which  had  before  been  said  by  the  Com- 
mission. On  the  8th  day  of  Kovember  was  begun  a session 
which  was  interrupted  but  resumed  on  the  18th  day  of  the 
same  month.  In  this  the  first  judge  declared  that  he  believed 
himself  without  the  jmwer  to  execute  the  judicial  process 
agreed  on  by  the  council  on  the  conduct  of  Judge  Menchaca, 
and  for  this  reason  he  had  done  nothing.  The  council  revoked 
their  first  judgment  of  the  25th  of  October,  in  which  they  had 
been  willing  to  receive  this  information,  with  which  the  conflict 
was  terminated. 

All  these  documents  relating  to  the  first  action  of  the 
council  have  been  used  by  the  complainants  of  Texas  to  find  a 
reason  for  accusation  against  Mexican  authorities ; f but  they 


* Report  of  the  U.  S.  Commissioners,  page  29.  Henry  Klahn. 
f Report  of  the  U.  S.  Commissioners  to  Texas,  page  30.  Document  19. 


120 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


have  not  mentioned  the  last,  that  is,  those  which  show  that  the 
judge  charged  to  execute  the  judicial  process  refiised  to  comply 
with  the  agreement  of  the  council,  and  that  he,  seeing  his 
error,  retraced  his  steps. 

‘ The  mass  of  the  documents  show  that  the  council  of  Mata- 
moros  never  asked  for  the  removal  of  Judge  Menchaca  ; that  its 
object  was  to  collect  the  proofs  with  regard  to  the  actions  on 
which  said  functionary  w’as  accused  by  one  of  the  aldermen, 
with  a view  of  making  them  known  to  the  State  government ; 
that  this  was  never  executed,  and  that  soon  after  the  former 
decision  was  revoked  ; in  all  this  was  acquired  the  certain 
knowledge  that  this  incident  never  had  the  slightest  importance. 

And  this  judgment  is  so  correct  that  Judge  Menchaca 
continued  afterwards  tranquilly  executing  his  functions  during 
several  months,  notwithstanding  that  the  complainants  in  Texas 
asserted  that,  as  a consequence  of  those  persecutions,  the  afore- 
mentioned judge  found  it  necessary  to  resign  and  take  refuge 
in  Europe. 

It  does  not  seem  necessary  to  have  sought  protection  at 
such  a distance,  unless  he  believed  his  persecutors  to  feel  a most 
persistent  hatred  against  him,  and  did  not  think  it  sufficient  to 
go  to  the  borders  of  the  United  States,  putting  the  river  Bravo 
between  himself  and  his  enemies,  but  considered  it  indispensa- 
ble that  the  ocean  should  separate  them. 

But  these  dramatic  proceedings  are  not  sustained  by  the 
documents.  The  judge  Menchaca  resigned  with  a view  to  go 
to  Europe  for  the  restoration  of  his  health,  and  the  court  of  jus- 
tice of  the  State  refused  to  accept  his  resignation.  At  his  re- 
quest they  gave  him  a leave  of  absence  of  three  months,  which 
began  the  22d  of  January,  1870.  Up  to  the  present  date, 
that  is,  until  long  after  the  occurrence  of  the  incidents  nar- 
rated, he  continued  to  exercise  his  judicial  functions.  Being  in 
Washington,  he  received  a telegram  from  the  convened  court 
recalling  him  to  take  charge  of  the  court,  but  he  answered  it 
was  necessary  for  him  to  go  to  Europe,  and  in  case  they  could 
not  wait  on  him  they  might  consider  his  resignation  made.  He 
returned  in  1871,  and  was  nominated  adviser  of  the  constitu- 
tional judges  of  Matamoros  ; he  was  unanimously  elected  con- 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


121 


stitutioiial  judge  for  the  year  1872  ; during  all  of  which  time 
he  discharged  the  duties  of  the  court,  and  was  commissioned  in 
his  judicial  character  to  receive  the  information  on  the  claims 
pending  in  the  joint  commission  in  Washington;  he  is  at  pres- 
ent district  attorney  of  the  federal  -court  in  Matamoros. 

It  is  seen  that  the  action  of  the  Matamoros  council  has  not 
been  an  impediment  in  the  way  of  attorney  Augustine  Men- 
chaea  in  the  exercise  of  his  judicial  functions  before  and  after 
his  absence  from  the  country.  It  is  seen  that  there  is  no  cor- 
rectness in  saying  that  the  public  indignation  was  manifested 
against  him  on  account  of  his  eflbrts  to  suppress  cattle  stealing, 
because  on  his  return  in  1871  the  town  of  Matamoros  unani- 
mously elected  him  constitutional  judge  for  1872.  It  is  seen 
even  in  this  trivial  affair  that  he  resumed  his  important 
character. 

The  council  was  not  guided  by  ignoble  views,  though  they 
erred  in  their  course.  That^same  council,  against  which  those 
reproaches  were  made,  discussed  in  the  session  of  the  18tli  of 
September,  1869,  the  question  of  cattle  stealing.  The  act  rela- 
tive to  this,  says : 

“ Mr.  Campnzano  called  the  attention  of  the'  municipal 
body  in  regard  to  the  clandestine  traflSc  of  herds  of  cattle  which 
are  passed  from  the  other  side  of  the  river,  and  asked  that  the 
R.  Corporation  should  take  such  preventive  measures  as  they 
deemed  expedient.  The  president  replied  that  he  had  previ- 
ously instructed  the  municipal  justices  to  carry  out  the  different 
rulings  on  this  subject,  which  had  been  communicated  to  them 
with  a view  of  putting  an  end  to  the  illegal  traffic  of 
cattle.  Mr.  Mainero  remarked  that  the  complaint  set 
forth  by  Mr.  Campnzano  was  a notorious  truth  with 
regard  to  the  illegal  traffic  carried  on  on  both  sides 
of  the  river,  in  the  transportation  of  cattle  from  the  left 
bank  into  Mexico,  as  well  as  the  transportation  of  horses  and 
mules  from  this  bank  to  the  opposite  shore  of  the  Bravo,  re- 
gardless of  the  measures  taken  by  the  president  of  the  council 
to  enforce  the  ruling  on  this  subject,  and  the  repeated  notices 
issued  relative  to  this  abuse,  and  which  had  been  sent  to  the 
judges  of  the  district  for  their  instruction.  That  notwithstand- 
ing all  these  regulations  the  evil  has  not  been  remedied,  and  in 
spite  of  all  the  measures  taken,  and  of  all  the  circulars  issued  to 
all  the  justices,  as  well  as  to  the  chiefs  of  the  country  police. 


122 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


instructing  both  not  to  permit  the  transportation  of  animals, 
either  in  the  case  of  importation  or  exportation,  unless  those  in- 
terested first  present  a permit  from  the  custom  house,  which  is 
required  by  the  general  laws.  Sufidcieutly  discussed,  it  was 
unanimously  approved.” 

At  the  time  the  coufiict  alluded  to  took  place,  the  munici- 
pal corporation  of  Matamoros  realized  the  evil  in  all  its  extent, 
and  spontaneously,  without  its  having  been  exacted,  they 
sought  remedies  in  the  best  faith.  And  not  only  does  the 
former  act  justify  the  authorities,  who  exercised  their  func- 
tions in  Matamoros  in  1869  ; the  circular  issued  on  the  2Sth  ot 
September,  of  the  same  year,  to  the  principal  justices  of  the 
peace,  demonstrated  that  the  council  of  that  year  endeavored 
to  prosecute  the  thefts.  In  it  was  admitted  that  the  greater 
part  of  the  cattle  passed  from  one  bank  to  another  was  stolen ; 
the  former  orders  to  prosecute  them  were  reiterated;  the  jus- 
tices of  the  peace  were  threatened  with  the  responsibility 
which  they  incurred  if  they  did  not  take  precautions,  to 
prevent  the  clandestine  passing  of  cattle  from  one  bank  to 
another. 

The  orders  dictated  by  the  Mexican  authorities,  and  the 
proceedings  of  those  in  Texas,  characterized  the  propensities  of 
both.  The  first  recognized  the  evil  in  its  fullest  extent ; they 
saw  that  not  only  was  our  frontier  robbed,  but  also  that  of 
Texas ; their  measures  take  steps  to  remedy  these  robberies ; 
their  just  views  show  that  in  nothing  have  they  attempted 
dissimulation.  The  second,  to  the  contrary,  are  only  affected 
by  the  damages  they  sustain,  and  they  take  no  notice  of  the 
organized  robbery  of  horses,  on  their  own  frontier,  to  the  det- 
riment of  Mexico  ; they  keep  silent  on  the  latter,  and  not  only 
do  they  remain  quiet,  but  even  the  grand  jury  of  the  county 
of  Cameron,  in  its  reports  of  the  22d  of  April,  1872,  says  that 
only  occasionally  were  horses  stolen  in  Mexico  and  taken  to 
Texas  ; that  the  guilty  parties  have  been  Mexicans,  and  it  has 
been  impossible  to  find  a single  American  involved  in  these 
transactions.  They  do  not  recognize  the  truth  in  regard  to 
Mexico,  and  they  arrive  at  the  most  unreliable  statements  in 
reference  to  Texas.  There  is  an  absolute  iudiflerence  in  the 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


123 


Texas  authorities  to  suppress  the  theft  committed  on  our  fron- 
tier for  the  United  States ; but  they  are  very  pressing  with  re- 
gard to  those  committed  in  Texas  for  Mexico.  The  Mexican 
proprietors  who  claim  their  stolen  property  before  the  Texas 
authorities  had  difficulties  placed  in  their  way  to  such  a de- 
gree that  pay  was  exacted  for  the  sheriff  or  agent  who  pur- 
sned  the  robbers ; but  the  judicial  pressure  as  regards  Mexico 
has  been  carried  to  the  extreme,  by  pretending  that  inspectors 
whose  nomination  originated  with  the  Texas  authorities  should 
perform  their  duties  in  Mexican  territory,  and  that  our  author- 
ities should  give  them  support,  in  violation  of  the  laws  of  the 
republic. 

In  the  unlawful  interference  which  the  officers  on  the  left 
border  of  the  Bravo  pretend  to  exercise  should  be  sought  the 
cause  of  the  conflict  begun  by  the  Matamoros  council  in  1869. 
It  was  not  in  truth  the  desire  to  protect  the  theft  which  moved 
them,  because  from  their  own  wish  they  had  formerly  adopted 
means  to  punish  it.  The  Commission  recognizes  in  the  munici- 
pal corporation  the  right  to  oppose  that  intervention.  That 
which  condemns  it  is  the  form  whieb  the  resistance  assumed. 
If  in  place  of  the  measures  which  they  took  and  afterwards 
found  necessary  to  revoke,  they  had  complained  before  the 
court  of  justice  of  the  State,  demanding  that  it  should  make  the 
judge  responsible  for  having  exceeded  the  powers  invested  in 
him,  the  Commission  would  have  recognized  that  the  council, 
in  its  proceedings  and  the  spirit  of  its  tendencies,  had  complied 
with  its  duties.  "VYith  regard  to  the  judge,  his  very  error  is  the 
greatest  proof  of  his  honorable  intentions  and  of  his  earnest 
desires  to  discover  the  crimes  of  the  guilty. 

Nor  is  there  less  foundation  to  the  reproach  made  against 
Judge  Hinojosa,  who  succeeded  Augustin  Menchaca.  Henry 
Klahn,  in  private  conversation  and  not  officially,  pretended  to 
have  received  from  him  an  order  to  search  all  the  pastures  in 
search  of  stolen  cattle.  It  did  not  designate  any  place  nor 
necessitate  any  act.  The  judge  refused  to  become  an  instru- 
ment to  any  such  deception,  and  answered  that  the  pastures 
should  first  be  searched,  and  when  he  could  say  there  was  any- 
thing stolen  he  would  lend  necessary  assistance  for  its  recovery. 


124 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


In  putting  forth  these  acts  in  the  complaints  made  against 
Mexico  all  the  circumstances  are  omitted,  and  it  is  only  shown 
that  the  judge,  Pedro  Hinojosa,  refused  his  assistance  and 
made  it  known  privately  to  Klahn,  making  it  appear  that  the 
judge  found  himself  under  such  a pressure  that  only  privately 
could  he  treat  of  this  subject. 

It  was  indispensable  that  the  Commission  should  carefully 
discuss  this  incident,  because  it  has  been  the  one  used  to  sustain 
that  the  corruption  of  the  Mexican  employees  reaches  the 
extreme,  not  only  in  protecting  the  theft  but  also  in  preventing 
faithful  officials  from  complying  with  their  duties.  When,  to 
prove  this,  are  presented  acts  and  incomplete  documents,  they 
cannot  but  presume  that  there  is  a want  of  better  reasons ; 
thus  the  accusation  becomes  the  most  complete  defense. 

A cause  has  existed  by  which,  notwithstanding  the  interest 
generally  taken  by  the  administrative  authorities  and  the  Mex- 
ican judicials,  these  orders  have  failed  to  produce  all  the  effects 
which  might  have  been  expected.  The  reason  of  this  has  been 
the  want  of  a police  force  sufficient  to  pursue  the  robbers.  The 
agents  of  justice  on  the  ranchos  did  not  count  on  any  official 
help,  and  their  lives  would  have  been  endangered  if  they  had 
attempted  to  enforce  the  compliance  with  all  the  necessary 
orders  which  they  had  received. 

The  country  police  of  Tamaulipas  is  a force  made  up  of  the 
proprietors  and  their  servants  ; it  was  established  for  the  care 
and  security  of  the  country — this  vigilance  commending  itself 
to  those  most  interested — hut  the  organization  became  an  office 
of  trust,  but  assumed  no  permanent  character.  When  they  had 
any  work  on  hand,  some  of  the  residents  united  at  the  order  of 
their  chief  to  do  the  work  commended  to  their  care  and  then 
return  to  their  labors.  This  has  been  one  of  the  principal  ele- 
ments for  the  persecution  of  the  theft,  and  it  can  be  seen  that 
this  could  not  be  sufficient. 

Later  the  authorities  on  our  frontier  saw  the  necessity  of 
organizing  a system  of  persecution  of  the  evil  doers,  and  this 
ought  not  only  to  be  done  when  they  carry  stolen  goods,  but  at 
any  time.  On  conceiving  this  idea  they  immediately  com- 
menced to  put  it  into  execution. 


KOllTllERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


125 


The  gang  of  thieves  which  were  most  notable  was  that  of 
Jose  Maria  Martinez  and  Andres  Flores.  The  first  prosecuting 
judge  of  Matamoros  ordered  the  country  police  in  the  east  to 
pursue  that  gang  of  robbers.  The  chief  of  that  expedition, 
Juan  Trevino  Conales,  made  an  agreement  with  Colonel  Ford, 
of  the  left  side  'of  the  Bravo,  that  they  might  simultaneously 
pursue  the  robbers  on  both  sides,  thus  preventing  the  fugitives 
from  this  side  from  uniting  and  organizing  on  the  other  ; the 
result  was  the  death  of  both  of  the  chiefs  in  September,  1870, 
and  the  taking  of  Baltasar  Flores  and  Magdaleno  Carrillo  ; the 
rest  of  the  gang  dispersed  themselves,  and  fiying,  took  refuge 
in  the  interior  of  Texas,  Avhere  many  of  them  have  been  seen. 

At  the  beginning  of  1871,  the  chief  of  the  country  police 
of  the  south  received  orders  to  go  in  search  of  the  robbers,  and 
of  these  were  killed  the  robbers  Ildefonse  Rodriguez,  Manuel 
Garcia,  and  Candido  Garcia. 

In  January,  1872,  General  Cortina  organized  a force  for  the 
purpose  of  pursuing  thieves  ; they  went  after  the  Lugas  gang, 
who  had  united  themselves  in  the  interior  of  Texas  to  Jose 
Maria  Sanchez  Uresti,  and  passed  over  to  Mexico  to  commit 
depredations.  Both  the  Lugas’  were  killed,  Pedro  and  Longi- 
nos,  Agapito  Galvan  and  Santiago  Sanchez,  all  famous  robbers. 

The  country  police,  at  the  beginning  of  the  same  year  dis- 
persed another  gang  organized  in  Texas,  and  to  which  belonged 
Antonia  Sardineta,  Antonia  Garcia,  Benito  Alaniz  and 
Agapito  Yanez.  The  last  was  taken  and  executed  according 
to  the  laws. 

The  Commission  has  already  mentioned  the  situation  of  the 
Bolsa,  and  the  facilities  which  it  presents  to  criminals  for  hiding 
themselves  on  both  banks.  The  Mexican  authorities,  in  August, 
1872,  ordered  the  pursuit  of  the  robbers  who  were  hiding  them- 
selves there,  but  that  this  might  porduce  the  best  results,  there 
was  a previous  agreement  made  with  the  United  States  consul 
at  Matamoros  that  a force  should  be  in  pursuit  on  American 
territory  at  the  same  time  it  was  being  done  on  the  Mexican 
side.  The  combination'  had  a good  exit,  leaving  the  gang  de- 
stroyed, and  having  killed  Oipriana  Flores,  Victor  Gonzales 
(alias)  the  Coyte,  Francisco  Gonzales  (alias)  the  Chineno  and 
Rafel  Hinojosa  (alias)  the  Cucho. 


126 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


On  the  course  east  of  Matamoros  it  had  continued  its  pur- 
suit of  the  robbers,  the  rest  of  the  Lugas  gang,  and  who  were 
commanded  by  Manuel  Garcia  Luga.  In  this  new  pursuit 
were  killed  Margarito  Garcia,  Geronimo  Perez,  and  Severe 
Acona. 

The  Commission  has  only  referred  to  the*organization  of 
thieves,  the  suppression  of  which  has  been  sought  for  since  the 
year  1870.  But  apart  from  this  they  have  been  in  pursuit  of 
other  thieves,  many  of  whom  were  executed,  and  others  were 
killed  through  the  resistance  which  they  made.  Among  these 
are  counted  Santiago  jN’uiies  and  another  called  Monterey,  and 
others  whose  names  are  not  known. 

The  consequence  of  this  systematic  persecution  has  been 
that  the  frontier  of  Tamaulipas  is  no  longer  a rendezvous  for 
the  thieves,  or  a point  of  refuge  for  the  runaways  who  habitu- 
ally reside  in  Texas.  The  largest  number  of  those  of  whom 
these  bands  were  composed  came  from  the  interior  of  Texas. 
Those  who  were  not  killed  returned  to  the  places  from  which 
they  came,  and  a small  number  went  to  the  interior  of  Ta- 
maulipas. With  them  considerably  disappeared  the  crimes 
which  were  being  perpetrated  on  both  frontiers,  which  fact 
corroborates  that  it  is  not  with  the  inhabitants  of  the  Mexican 
frontier  that  the  origin  of  the  disorder  can  be  looked  for,  nor 
were  they  its  principal  agents.  It  is  certain  that  on  our  frontier 
there  must  have  been  accomplices,  but  these,  aecording  to  the 
proofs,  did  not  take  the  principal  part.  It  is  also  beyond  doubt 
true  that  on  the  Mexican  side  there  must  have  been  co-laborers 
to  assist  them,  but  the  robbing  enterprises  were  organized  on 
the  Texas  “ ranchos,”  whose  residents  stole  cattle  to  make  over 
to  others,  to  be  carried  to  the  banks  of  the  Bravo. 

The  pursuit  which  w^as  made  after  the  gang  of  Jose  Maria 
Martinez  and  that  of  Cipriana  Flores,  are  examples  which 
ought  not  to  be  forgotten.  It  is  shown  by  these  that  a happy 
termination  in  such  cases,  can  only  be  effected  by  the  combined 
action  of  the  authorities  on  both  sides. 

With  rare  exceptions,  the  Mexicans  have  been  extremely 
solicitous  to  correct  the  disordered  state  complained  of  by 
both  borders.  Them  repeated  orders,  show  that  they  proceeded 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


12T 


with  perseverance  in  a system  for  this  purpose,  and  that  on 
convincing  themselves  that  the  ordinary  means  were  not  suffi- 
cient they  sought  more  effectual  remedies. 

Our  frontier  is  tranquil,  while  in  that  of  Texas  exists  in- 
creasing disorder,  and  the  cattle  stealing,  under  the  form  of 
skinning  cattle,  has  assumed  extraordinary  proportions.  The 
comparison  of  what  is  taking  place  in  both  countries  would 
convince  the  most  incredulous  that  the  corruption  so  extended  in 
Texas  had  its  beginning  there,  being  there  propagated  and 
there  perfected.  It  is  not  confined  to  any  particular  class ; all 
take  part  in  it,  who  steal  one  animal  and  skin  it ; and  the 
merchants  who  without  scruple  buy  the  skins,  and  the  pro- 
prietor who  marks  calves  that  do  not  belong  to  him,  and  the 
herder  who  sells  cattle  not  belonging  to  him,  on  the  pretext 
that  he  will  return  it,  if  the  owner  claims  it,  are  all  engaged  in 
it.  These  are  the  causes  of  the  demoralization  on  our  frontier  ; 
there  are  the  traders  of  horses  stolen  in  Mexico,  and  from  them 
is  received  the  impulse  by  the  cattle  stealers  to  fall  on  the 
Mexican  frontier. 

General  Juan  N.  Cortina’s  conduct  has  been  made  the  sub- 
ject of  most  special  inquiry.  He  has  been  made  the  object  of 
the  severest  criticism  along  the  whole  length  of  the  Mexican 
line;  his  forces  have  been  termed  organized  hordes,  and  it  was 
said  that  they  penetrated  into  Texas  for  the  purpose  of  com- 
mitting the  greatest  depredations.  In  order  that  the  full  ex- 
tent of  the  charges  made  may  be  understood,  the  Commission 
have  annexed  to  the  expediente  copies  of  the  Brownsville  papers 
containing  them,  and  the  reports  of  several  of  the  grand  juries 
of  Cameron  and  Starr  counties.  The  consideration  of  the 
question  relating  to  the  frontier  under  this  aspect  convinced  the 
Commission  that  the  recent  complaints  are  so  intimately  con- 
nected with  General  Cortina’s  previous  life,  that  it  would  be 
impossible  to  estimate  the  former  without  a full  examination  of 
the  latter.  These  considerations  induced  the  Commission  to 
make  a lengthened  investigation  with  regard  to  General  Corti- 
na, and  the  influence  exercised  by  him  upon  both  sides  of  the 
Bravo  since  1859. 

On  the  26th  of  April  of  this  year,  the  grand  jury  of  Came- 


128 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


ron  county  found  three  bills  of  indictment  against  Juan  N".  Cor- 
tina for  “ cattle  stealing.”  The  number  of  such  indictments 
was  subsequently  increased  in  Cameron  county  to  eleven,  and 
ill  Starr  county  to  four.  The  crimes  of  which  he  was  accused 
were  homicide,  attempt  at  homicide,  and  treason.  These  lat- 
ter are  subsequent  to  his  revolt  in  1859,  and  were,  no  doubt, 
consequently  influenced  by  that  occurrence.  But  with  regard 
to  the  three  former,  that  is,  those  for  cattle  stealing,  as  these 
were  prior  to  that  occurrence,  it  is  presumable  that  no  other 
influences  were  exerted,  except  those  usually  present  in  such 
cases. 

Ilis  revolt  was  brought  about  by  the  following  circum- 
stances. He  saw  the  sheriff  at  Brownsville  dragging  a Mexican 
along  by  the  collar;  Cortina  remonstrated  with  him;  the  sheriff' 
made  use  of  insulting  language  in  his  reply  ; Cortina  then  shot 
at  and  wounded  him,  and  carried  off  the  prisoner.  This  oc- 
cured  on  the  13th  of  Jul}’,  1859.  On  the  28th  of  September 
of  the  same  year,  he  again  appeared  at  Brownsville  with  some 
fifty  men,  and  took  possession  of  the  town.  Several  of  those 
who,  it  was  alleged,  had  been  guilt}"  of  outrage  toward  the 
Texan  Mexicans,”  were  killed,  and  all  the  prisoners  who  joined 
him  were  released.  At  the  request  of  various  persons  he  left 
the  city  and  retired  to  his  ranch ; he  was  disposed  to  lay  down 
his  arms  and  leave  Texas ; several  parties  saw  him  for  this  pur- 
pose, and  he  agreed  to  it,  requiring  only  from  four  to  six  days 
to  transfer  to  the  Mexican  side  some  cattle  which  some  of  his 
companions  had,  and  divide  his  people  into  small  parties  of 
three  or  four  each,  to  avoid  their  being  pursued  by  the  Mexican 
authorities  at  the  time  of  their  crossing  the  river.  He  did  so, 
but  shortly  after  he  was  told  that  one  of  his  followers  had  been 
hung  at  Brownsville,  upon  which  he  went  into  Texas  and  began 
gathering  people  together,  giving  his  movement  a more  definite 
character. 

It  is  worthy  of  notice  that  when  the  revolt  assumed  this  as- 
pect it  was  highly  popular  among  the  “Texan  Mexicans,”  that 
is,  among  all  the  Mexican  population  which  had  settled  in  Texas 
before  or  after  the  treaty  of  Guadaloupe.  The  fact  that  Cortina 
was  joined  by  a large  number  of  these,  some  of  whom  were 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


129 


land  owners,  can  be  attributed  to  no  other  reason.  One  of 
these  was  Theodore  Zamora,  who  at  the  time  he  joined  Cortina 
was  one  of  the  authoi’ities  of  Hidalgo  county,  and  several  wit- 
nesses have  deposed  that  he  was  the  mayor  of  the  county  at 
the  time. 

The  Commission  has  already  referred  to  the  condition  of  the 
Mexicans  in  Texas  subsequent  to  the  treaty  of  Guadalupe, 
Their  lands  were  especially  coveted.  Their  title  deeds  presented 
the  same  confusion  as  did  all  the  grants  of  land  made  by  the 
Spanish  government,  and  this  became  the  fruitful  source  of  liti- 
gation by  which  many  families  were  ruined.  The  legislation, 
instead  of  being  guided  by  a spirit  of  equity,  on  the  contrary 
tended  toward  the  same  end  ; attempts  were  made  to  deprive 
the  Mexicans  of  their  lands,  the  sliglitest  occurrence  was  made 
use  of  for  this  purpose,  and  the  supposition  is  not  a remote 
one,  that  the  cause  of  such  procedure  may  have  been  a well 
settled  political  principle,  leading  as  far  as  possible  to  exclude 
from  an  ownership  in  the  soil  the  Mexicans,  whom  they 
regarded  as  enemies  and  an  inferior  race. 

At  the  commencement,  and  during  the  disorganization 
which  was  prolonged  after  the  Treaty  of  Guadalupe,  robberies 
and  spoliations  of  lands  were  pei'petrated  by  parties  of  armed 
Americans.  It  is  not  extraordinary  to  find  some  of  them  whose 
only  titles  consist  in  having  taken  possession  of  and  settled 
upon  lands  belonging  to  Mexicans.  After  these  spoliations 
there  came  the  spoliations  in  legal  forms,  and  all  the  resources 
of  a complicated  legislation.* 


* At  the  time  the  Commission  made  its  report  it  had  not  then  received  vari- 
ous documents  to  which  reference  will  be  made  in  their  proper  places  by  notes. 
Some  of  these  show  the  insecurity  under  which  the  Mexican  population  in  Texas 
had  labored,  and  refer  to  the  difficulties  known  as  the  cart  question. 

The  residents  of  Uvalde  county,  Texas,  in  September,  1867,  passed  several  reso- 
lutions, prohibiting  aU  Mexicans  from  traveling  through  the  country  except  un- 
der a passport  granted  by  some  American  authority.  At  Goliad  several  Mexi- 
cans were  killed  because  it  was  supposed  that  they  had  driven  their  carts  on  the 
public  road. 

On  the  14th  and  19th  of  October  the  Mexican  Legation  at  Washington  ad- 
dressed the  United  States  Government  a statement  of  these  facts,  adding  that 
it  had  been  informed  that  in  the  vicinity  of  San  Antonio,  Bexar,  Texas,  parties  of 
9 


130 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


The  Texan  Mexicans  enjoyed  no  greater  personal  security 
tliau  did  their  property,  and  what  is  remarkable,  is  that  they 


armed  men  had  been  organized  for  the  exclusive  purpose  of  pursuing  the  Mexi- 
cans upon  the  public  roads,  killing  them  and  robbing  their  property,  and  that 
the  number  of  victims  was  stated  to  have  been  seventy-five.  That  it  was  also  in- 
formed that  Mexican  citizens  by  birth,  residing  peaceably  at  San  Antonio,  under 
the  protection  of  the  laws,  had  been  expelled  from  the  place,  and  finally  that 
some  of  the  families  of  the  victims  of  these  extraordinary  persecutions  had  begun 
to  arrive  in  Mexico  on  foot  and  without  means,  having  been  obliged  to  abandon 
all  their  property  in  order  to  save  their  lives. 

The  Secretary  of  State  on  the  24th  of  the  same  month  addressed  a communi- 
cation to  Mr.  E.  M.  Pease,  the  Governor  of  the  State  of  Texas,  in  which  he 
says; 

“ These  reports  are  not  exclusively  Mexican.  The  least  among  the  outrages 
appear  to  be  the  violation  of  rights  guaranteed  by  law,  and  under  treaties,  and  I 
have  no  doubt  that  you  will  have  already  adopted  speedy  and  energetic  measures 
to  ascertain  the  truth  and  punish  the  aggressors.” 

Governor  Pease  on  the  11th  of  November,  1857,  sent  a message  to  the  Texas 
Legislature.  In  it  he  stated  that  during  the  month  of  September  previous,  the 
Executive  had  received  authentic  information  that  a train  of  carts  had  been  at- 
tacked a' short  distance  from  Ellana,  Carnes  county,  while  peaceably  traveling  on 
the  public  highway,  by  a party  of  armed  and  masked  men,  who  fired  upon  the 
cartmen,  killing  one  and  wounding  three  others.  That  at  the  same  time  he  had 
also  received  notice  of  another  attack  which  took  place  the  latter  part  of  July, 
upon  a train  in  Goliad  county.  That  the  attack  was  made  at  night,  and  three  of 
the  cartmen  were  wounded.  That  the  killed  and  wounded  in  both  instances 
were  Mexicans,  with  the  exception  of  one  who  was  an  American.  That  with 
these  same  reports  proofs  had  also  been  received  that  a combination  had  been 
formed  in  several  counties  for  the  purpose  of  committing  these  same  acts  of 
violence  against  citizens  of  Mexican  origin,  so  long  as  they  continued  to  transport 
goods  by  those  roads. 

The  Governor  continues  by  stating  the  measures  adopted  b}'  him  for  suppress- 
ing and  punishing  such  outrages.  He  states  that  he  proceeded  to  San  Antonio  for 
the  purpose  of  ascertaining  whether  measures  had  been  taken  for  the  arrest  of 
the  aggressors  and  to  prevent  the  repetition  of  such  occurrences,  to  which  end  he 
had  conferences  with  several  citizens  of  Bexar.  The  result  of  these  confer- 
ences convinced  him  that  no  measdres  had  been  taken  or  probably  would 
be  taken  for  the  arrest  of  the  guilty  parties,  or  prevention  of  similar  attacks. 
That  in  fact  combinations  of  the  kind  mentioned  did  exist,  and  that  they  had 
been  the  origin  of  repeated  assaults  upon  the  persons  and  property  of  Mexicans 
who  traveled  over  those  roads.  That  in  several  of  the  border  counties  there 
jirevaUed  a deep  feeling  of  animosity  towards  the  Mexicans,  and  that  there  was 
imminent  danger  of  attacks  and  of  retaliation  being  made  by  them,  which  if  once 
begun  would  inevitably  bring  about  a war  of  races. 

The  following  paragraph  of  the  same  message  shows  how  inexcusable  these 
outrages  were ; 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


131 


were  wronged  and  outraged  witli  impunity,  because  as  far  as 
they  were  concernod,  justice  and  oppression  were  synonymous. 
Here  is  what  a Brownsville  newspaper  says  upon  the  subjeet: 

“ We  have  had  occasion  frequently  to  deplore  that  want  of 
the  administration  of  the  law  in  such  manner  as  to  render  to 
all  parties  the  justice  to  which  they  were  entitled.  According 
to  our  ideas,  wlien  an  officer  enters  upon  the  discharge  of  his 
duties,  he  should  mark  out  for  himself  such  a line  of  conduct 
as  would  insure  the  impartial  exercise  of  liis  duties,  laying 
aside  all  distinctions  of  race  aud  persons,  and  remove  from  his 
proceedings  everything  which  would  tend  to  give  them  the 
appearance  of  a farce.  Our  population  is,  as  is  well  known, 
divided  into  two  classes,  Americans  and  Mexicans ; the  latter 
are  unquestionably  more  exposed  to  wrong  than  the  former; 
their  natural  timidity  makes  them  inoffensive,  and  by  reason 
of  the  difference  of  language  they  cannot  well  understand  our 
laws,  or  fully  enjoy  their  rights.  We  have  heard  one  of  our 
liighest  officers  state  that  it  would  be  difficult  to  find  a class  of 
people  more  obedient  to  the  laws.  It  is  true  that  among  them 
there  are  bad  characters,  and  these  should  be  severely  punished. 


“ We  have  a lar^e  Mexican  population  in  our  western  counties,  among  which 
are  very  many  who  have  been  carefully  educated,  and  who  have  rendered  im- 
portant services  to  the  country  in  the  days  of  lier  tribulation.  There  is  no  doubt  but 
that  there  are  some  bad  characters  amongst  this  class  of  citizens,  but  the  great 
mass  of  them  are  as  orderly  and  law-abiding  as  any  class  in  the  State.  They 
cheerfully  perform  the  duties  imposed  upon  them,  and  they  are  entitled  to  the 
protection  of  the  laws  in  any  honest  calling  which  they  may  choose  to  select.” 

The  condition  of  the  Mexican  population  residing  in  Texas  has  changed  but 
Uttle  since  IBS'?.  Governor  Pease’s  message  to  the  Texas  Legislature  that  year 
exposes  and  explains  the  reason  of  revolts  such  as  the  one  which  occurred  on  the 
banks  of  the  Rio  Bravo  under  Cortina  in  1859. 

A large  portion  of  the  disturbances  which  occurred  between  the  Bravo  and 
Nueces  rivers  is  attributable  to  the  persecutions  suffered  by  the  Mexicans  resid- 
ing there  ; persecutions  which  have  engendered  the  most  profound  hatred  between 
the  races. 

Governor  Pease,  in  the  message  referred  to  in  the  forgoing  note,  gives  it  to  be 
understood  that  the  Mexicans  did  not  enjoy  the  protection  of  the  courts  and  the 
authorities.  He  says  our  laws  are  adequate  to  the  protection  of  life  and  prop- 
erty, but  when  the  citizens  and  authorities  of  a county  become  indifferent  to  their 
execution,  they  are  useless.  Some  remedy  must  be  found  for  this  condition  of 
things,  and  the  only  means  which  suggests  itself  to  me,  is  that  jurisdiction  be 
given  to  the  grand  jury,  the  officers  and  courts  in  any  adjoining  county  where  an 
impartial  trial  may  be  obtained,  to  arrest  and  try  the  offenders. 

This  passage  shows  that  there  was  no  justice  for  the  Mexicans  in  Texas,  and 
■with  regard  to  which  the  complaint  has  frequently  been  made. 


132 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


bnt  this  fact  at  times  gives  rise  to  their  all  being  classed  in  the- 
same  category,  and  ill-used.  We  do  not  address  any  one  in 
particular,  our  remarks  are  general.  Americans  have  at  times 
committed  offenses  which  in  them  have  been  overlooked,  but 
which,  if  committed  by  Me.xicans  would  have  been  severely 
punished.  But  when  election  time  comes,  it  is  wonderful  to 
behold  the  friendship  existing  for  the  Mexican  voters,  and  the 
protection  extended  to  them,  the  sympathy  wliieh  until  then 
had- remained  latent  or  concealed,  suddenly  reveals  itself  in  all 
its  plentitude,  and  many  are  astonished  not  to  have  found  until 
then  the  amount  of  kindly  feeling  professed  towards  them  by 
their  whilom  friends.  Promises  of  all  kinds  are  made  to  them, 
but  scarcely  are  the  promises  made,  when  they  are  broken. 
An  hour  before  the  election  they  are  fast  friends,  ‘ Mexicans, 
iny  very  good  friends’ — an  hour  after  the  election  they  are  a 
‘crowd  of  greasers.’  The  magistrates  are  not  Pachas  or  ab- 
solute rulers ; a certain  respect  is  due  to  their  position,  and  the 
consciousness  of  the  responsibility  resting  upon  them  should 
make  them  feel  their  duties.” — AmeAcan  Flag^  Brownsville, 
August  20th,  1856. 

The  Mexicans,  whether  they  be  Texans  or  whether  they  pre- 
serve their  original  nationality,  have  been  the  victims  both  in 
their  persons  and  property,  and  they  have  not  been  fully  pro- 
tected by  the  laws.  Upon  such  antecedents,  the  cause  of  the 
popularity  of  the  Cortina  movement  among  the  Mexican  popu- 
lation in  Texas  is  easily  understood.  He  issued  several  procla- 
mations, in  the  first  of  which,  dated  the  30th  September,  1859, 
he  said  : 

“ Our  purpose  has  been  as  you  have  seen,  and  your  testi- 
mony to  the  fact  you  cannot  withhold,  to  punish  the  infamous 
villainy  of  onr  enemies.  Tliese  have  banded  togetbei-,  and  as 
it  were,  form  a treacherous  inquisition  to  pursue  and  rob  us,  for 
no  other  reason  and  for  no  other  ofi'ense  upon  our  part,  except 
being  by  birth  Mexicans,  and  because  they  suppose^  us  to  be 
destitute  of  those  very  qualities  which  they  themselves  do  not 
possess.  * * * Xhe  board  having  been  organized  and 

being  presided  over  by  me,  thanks  to  the  confidence  which  I 
inspire  as  being  one  of  the  most  greatly  wronged,  we  have 
searched  the  streets  of  the  city  for  our  antagonists,  to  punish 
them,  since  the  law  is  inoperative  for  them,  and  justice  as  ad- 
ministered by  them  is  unfortunately  a dead  letter.  They,  as 
we  have  already  said,  with  a multitude  of  lawyers,  form  a band 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


133 


in  concert,  to  dispossess  the  Mexicans  of  their  lands,  and  after- 
wards usurp  them.  Adolpho  Glaevecke’s  conduct  proves  it. 
Invested  with  the  character  of  a member  of  the  Legislature, 
and  in  combination  with  the  lawyers,  he  has  disseminated 
terror  among  the  unthinking,  by  making  them  believe  that 
they  were  about  to  hang  the  Mexicans  upon  any  pretext,  that 
they  would  burn  their  ranches,  to  thus  compel  them  to  leave 
the  country,  and  so  attain  their  ends.” 

In  another  proclamation,  of  the  23d  of  November,  1859, 
various  resolutions  were  published,  of  which  the  1st  and  3d 
stated  : 


“ An  organized  society  in  the  State  of  Texas  will  untiringly 
devote  itself,  until  its  philanthropical  purpose  of  bettering  the 
condition  of  the  unfortunate  Mexicans  who  reside  there  shall 
have  been  attained,  to  the  extermination  of  their  tyrants,  and 
to  this  end  those  composing  it  are  ready  to  shed  their  blood  or 
die  the  death  of  martyrs. 

“ Article  3d.  The  Mexicans  in  Texas  place  their  future 
under  the  protection  of  the  kindly  feelings  of  General  Houston, 
the  Governor  elect  of  the  State,  and  confide  that  upon  his 
elevation  to  power  he  will  inaugurate  such  measures  within  the 
sphere  of  his  powers  as  will  give  them  the  protection  of  the 
laws.” 


The  popularity  of  that  movement  among  the  Texan  Mexi- 
cans is  disclosed  by  another  document.  A report  of  the  grand 
jury  of  Cameron  county  said  : 

“ Owing  to  its  extended  ramifications,  or  his  (Cortina’s)  in- 
fluence, the  secrecy  which  he  imposes,  and  the  general  sym- 
pathy toward  him  on  the  part  of  the  lower  classes  of  the  Mexi- 
cans, there  is  little  room  to  doubt  that  he  could  get  together  a 
large  force  under  his  orders. 

“ Whether  it  be  fear  or  sympathy  with  the  marauders,” 
says  the  same  document,  “ which  prevents  them  from  appear- 
ing, the  Mexican  residents  of  the  county  generally  fail  to  ap- 
pear, and  when  they  do,  they  dislike  to  givm  information  wdth 
regard  to  the  numerous  robberies  and  murders  which  are  com- 
mitted.”— Report  of  the  Grand  Jury,  Cameron  county,  Novem- 
ber, 1859. 

The  higher  authorities  of  Texas  believed  that  there  was 
more  in  the  revolt  of  Cortina  and  his  followers  than  an  inten- 


134 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


tion  of  murder  and  robbery.  Governor  Houston,  in  a procla- 
mation on  the  28th  of  December,  1859,  said : 

“If  any  parties  have  been  injured,  there  is  no  necessity  for 
them,  under  a free  government  such  as  oui-s,  to  liave  recourse 
to  acts  of  violence  to  redress  their  grievances,  because  they 
may  rely  for  protection  upon  the  guaranty  which  the  Consti- 
tution and  laws  furnish.  ^ ^ * The  laws  will  be  equally 

executed  towards  all  of  our  fellow-citizens,  and  none  need  fear 
persecution.  It  is  necessary  to  make  an  investigation,  and  it 
will  be  made ; if  any  persons  have  been  injured  their  complaints 
will  be  heard.  Their  continuance  in  rebellion  against  the  laws 
can  only  weaken  their  claim  to  justice.  If,  as  they  state,  they 
confide  in  the  present  executive,  to  see  that  legal  protection  is 
extended  to  them  within  the  sphere  of  his  powers,  he  assures 
them,  that  he  will  omit  no  constitutional  means  to  protect  the 
rights  of  all  good  citizens ; and  those  who  return  to  their  duty 
may  be  assured  of  the  protection  of  the  law.” 

The  Commission  have  made  every  eftort  to  define  the  nature 
of  these  occurrences,  according  to  the  documents  of  the  time, 
because  at  a later  period  it  has  been  attempted  to  deny  that 
these  events  were  questions  between  Texans,  and  throw  the 
responsibility  on  the  frontier  and  the  Mexican  authorities. 
The  foregoing  remarks  refer  to  the  nature  of  the  movement, 
but  there  are  others  which  relate  to  those  who  participated  in 
it,  and  which  further  remove  any  doubts  which  might  arise. 

In  his  proclamation  of  the  30th  of  September,  1859,  Juan 
X.  Cortina  said : 

“Laborious  and  thirsting  for  the  enjoyment  of  the  blessings 
of  liberty  in  the  classic  land  of  its  origin,  we  were  induced  to 
become  naturalized  in  it.  * * ^ Casually  separated  from 

the  inhabitants  of  the  city  on  account  of  being  outside  of  it, 
bnt  not  relinquishing  our  rights  as  citizens  of  the  United 
States  P 

This  character  which  Cortina  and  those  who  had  revolted 
with  him  assumed,  was  recognized  before  and  after  their  rising. 
Before,  because  they  were  allowed  to  vote  at  the  elections  in 
Texas.  After,  because  on  the  12th  of  May,  1860,  the  grand 
jury  of  Cameron  county  indicted  Cortina  for  treason,  which  in- 
dictment would  have  been  impossible  if  ho  had  not  been  a 
citizen. 


NORTHERN'  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


135 


The  Brownsville  press  when  explaining  the  elements  of 
which  Cortina’s  forces  were  composed,  says : 

“ On  the  morning  of  Wednesday  (September  28th,  1859), 
he  (Cortina),  with  a force  estimated  at  from  sixty  to  one  hun- 
dred men,  armed  and  mounted,  all  Mexicans  by  birth,  but  the 
greater  part  of  tliem  criminals  from  Mexico,  to  whom  an  asylum 
has  been  stupidhj  furnished  on  the  American  side,  arrived  in 
our  city.  * * * And  to  make  the  condition  of  things 

worse,  the  greater  part  of  these  men  have  committed  crimes  in 
Mexico,  on  account  of  which  perhaps  there  is  as  little  or  less 
safety  for  tliem  in  Mexico  ; in  the  meantime,  many  among  them 
pretend  to  be  citizens  of  the  United  States,  and  are  determined 
to  keep  on  this  side  of  the  river.” — American  Flay,  Browns- 
ville, October  8th,  1859. 

There  were  in  fact  among  the  people  who  had  revolted  with 
Cortina  some  criminals  ; the  Texas  side  was  suffering  the  conse- 
quences of  the  protection  which  it  had  afforded  the  marauders 
who  sallied  out  from  thence  to  perpetrate  their  crimes  in  Mex- 
ico, but  at  the  same  time  the  remarks  made  by  the  journal  re- 
ferred to,  show  tliat  the  movement  had  its  origin  in  Texas, 
and  was  promoted  by  persons  residing  there,  and  that  our 
frontier  had  notliiug  to  do  with  these  occurrences. 

The  officers  of  the  United  States  were  of  the  same  opinion. 
The  same  journal  copied  from  the  New  York  Herald,  the  fol- 
lowing paragraph : 

“ The  war  department  has  received  a letter  from  Captain 
Rickets,  which  states,  ‘The  origin  of  the  difficulty  is  owing  to 
a quarrel  among  people  mixed  up  in  private  matters,  and  is  so 
complicated  in  its  character,  that  it  is  difficult  to  ascertain  the 
truth.’” — American  Flay,  Brownsville,  January  26th,  1860. 

General  Winfield  Scott,  in  his  report  of  the  19th  of  March, 
1860,  expressed  himself  as  follows: 

“ The  recent  disturbances  on  our  side  of  the  lower  Rio 
Grande  were  commenced  by  Texans,  and  carried  out  by  and 
among  them  ; Cortina  himself  and  the  greater  part  of  his  ban- 
dits are  natives  of  Texas.  * * * But  few  Mexicans  from 

the  other  side  of  the  river,  if  any,  took  part  in  those  disturb- 
ances.” 

The  same  opinion  prevailed  on  the  Mexican  frontier.  A 
paper  at  Matamoros  said  : 


136 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


“The  proclamation  issued  by  John  Cortina,  a citizen  of 
the  United  States,  was  printed  at  the  city  of  Brownsville,  and 
has  been  circulated  in  both  cities.” — El  Jayne,  October  i2th, 
1859. 

In  a communication  of  the  1st  of  !Movember,  1859,  ad- 
dressed by  the  Mexican  consul  at  Brownsville  to  the  Mexican 
legation  in  the  United  States,  relating  the  occurrences,  and 
stating  that  he  had  been  called  upon,  together  with  other  per- 
sons, to  see  Cortina,  he  says : 

“ I informed  them  that  I could  not  do  so  in  my  official 
capacity,  because  in  addition  to  tlie  fact  that  Cortina  was  not 
the  representative  of  any  legal  authority,  he  and  the  parties 
who  were  with  him,  were  naturalized  citizens  of  the  United 
States.” 

In  a communication  of  the  30th  of  January,  1860,  addressed 
by  tlie  gefatura  politica  of  the  district  of  the  north,  to  the 
municipality  of  Reynosa,  it  stated  : 

“ That  it  had  been  informed  with  regard  to  the  late  occur- 
rences concerning  the  jS^orth  American  faction  headed  by  Cor- 
tina.” 

In  nearly  all  the  communications  of  that  time  he  is  styled 
the  same.  The  quotations  would  be  lengthy,  and  the  Commis- 
sion refers  to  the  documents  taken  from  the  divers  archives, 
which  appear  in  the  “ expedientesP  In  all  of  them  it  is  seen 
that  the  Mexican  authorities  always  held  an  unvaiying  opinion 
with  regard  to  the  character  of  Cortina  and  his  forces,  whether 
he  was  marauding  on  this  or  the  other  margin  of  the  river. 

At  the  commenceinert,  and  when  the  occurrences  took 
place,  the  truth  was  not  denied,  the  press  of  Brownsville  and 
Matamoros,  the  grand  jury  who  indicted  Cortina  as  a traitor 
against  the  State  of  Texas,  the  United  States  authorities,  and 
those  on  the  Mexican  frontier,  admitted  that  the  difficulties  had 
their  origin  in  Texas  and  among  Texans,  and  that  neither  Mex- 
ico or  the  Mexicans  had  any  interest  or  participation  in  the 
question.  Xevertheless,  a short  time  after,  when  the  most  im- 
minent risk  was  passed,  attempts  were  commenced  to  be  made 
to  distort  the  facts.  The  first  was  made  in  a report  of  the 
grand  jury  of  Cameron  county. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


137 


When  Cortina  made  his  first  revolt  and  took  possession  of 
Brownsville,  on  the  morning  of  the  28th  of  September,  1859, 
several  residents  of  the  place  represented  to  the  Mexican  con- 
sul that  it  was  desirable  to  ask  aid  from  the  authorities  at  Mata- 
moros.  The  consul  agreed  to  grant  their  request,  upon  the 
condition  that  the  authorities  at  Brownsville  should  make  the 
request,  and  authorize  the  coming  of  the  force.  At  nine  o’clock 
on  that  day,  the  sheriff  of  the  city  made  an  official  communi- 
cation asking  aid  from  the  military  commander  at  Matamoros  ; 
this  was  immediately  granted,  he  replying  that,  “ not  only  the 
regular  troops,  but  the  people  of  the  city  were  ready  and  willing 
to  aid  the  inhabitants  of  Brownsville,  and  that  for  tliis  purpose 
they  would  cross  the  river,  if  necessary,  whenever  requested  to 
do  so  by  the  authorities  of  the  latter  city.” 

Cortina  again  revolted  in  October  of  the  same  year,  and 
threatened  Brownsville;  the  authorities  there  requested  aid 
from  the  Mexican  authorities,  which  was  promptly  granted,  and 
not  only  were  troops  sent,  but  arms  were  furnished  for  the 
arming  of  the  people.  On  both  occasions  Brownsville  was 
garrisoned  by  Mexican  troops,  and  these  preserved  the  city  and 
its  inhabitants  from  all  attacks  or  threats.  Further,  the  last 
time  the  Mexican  forces  made  an  expedition  against  Cortina 
and  were  defeated. 

The  proceedings  of  the  authorities  at  Matamoros  received 
the  full  approbation  of  the  government  of  the  State  of  Taraau- 
lipas  and  of  the  Federal  Government.  The  former,  in  a com- 
munication of  the  10th  of  October,  addressed  to  the  military 
commander  of  the  line  of  the  Bravo,  after  expressing  its  ap- 
proval of  all  that  had  been  done,  added  : 

“ The  government  confides  in  you,  that  you,  with  your 
usual  activity  will  continue  taking  all  the  measures  in  your 
power  to  insure  the  public  tranquility  within  the  bounds  of 
your  command,  and  aid  the  authorities  of  Brownsville  for  this 
same  purpose  whenever  they  request  it.  You  will  please  to 
make  a similar  manifestation  (of  approval)  to  the  authorities 
and  residents  of  your  city,  who  with  such  kindly  feelings  re- 
solved to  give  that  aid  which  humanity  and  our  friendly  rela- 
tions with  the  American  people  demanded.” 


138 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


The  Federal  Govercmentj  in  a communication  of  the  3d  of 
December  of  the  same  year,  addressed  to  the  government  of 
the  State  of  Tamaulipas,  and  by  it  transcribed  on  the  30th  of 
the  same  month  to  the  military  commandant  of  the  line,  after 
referring  to  the  occurrences,  directed: 

“ Orders  vill  be  issued  to  the  forces  on  the  frontier  of  the 
State,  to  prevent  the  crossing  to  the  right  bank  of  the  Eio 
Bravo,  of  the  bandits  who  attacked  Brownsville,  and  that  they, 
together  and  in  concert  with  the  officers  in  command  of  the 
American  forces,  pursue  these  bandits  until  they  are  brought 
to  order,  or  exemplarily  punished.” 

The  action  referred  to  by  the  authorities  of  the  republic, 
both  superior  and  inferior,  and  that  of  the  people  of  Matamoros 
were  uniform  as  to  the  course  to  be  pursued.  This  the  authori- 
ties at  Brownsville  were  unable  to  deny  at  the  time.  The 
mayor  of  the  city  in  a communication  of  the  29th  of  ^sovem- 
ber,  1859j  addressed  to  the  Mexican  consul,  says : 

“I  am  the  organ  for  expressing  the  general  feelings  of  my 
fellow-citizens,  when  I assure  you  of  the  great  satisfaction 
which  I have  experienced  upon  learning  of  the  action  of  your 
government  in  this  respect  (it  referred  to  the  government  of 
Tamaulipas).  This  is  another  of  the  many  proofs  given  by  the 
present  government  of  Mexico,  of  its  desire  to  maintain  the 
principles  of  good  friendship  towards  the  United  States  as  a 
nation,  and  towards  the  inhabitants  of  a sister  city.” 

The  good  offices  of  our  authorities  were  recognized  at  that 
time,  because  it  was  impossible  to  conceal  them,  but  at  the 
same  time  they  affected  to  entertain  an  opinion,  which  in  the 
course  of  years,  was  to  suffer  various  transformations,  until  it 
arrived  at  the  one,  that  Mexico  was  alone  culpable. 

The  grand  jury  of  Cameron  county,  which  commenced  its 
sessions  on  the  second  Monday  of  November,  1859,  submitted 
a report  with  regard  to  the  disturbances  which  had  taken  place. 
They  related  the  origin  of  the  revolt,  and  that  Cortina  subse- 
quently crossed  the  Bio  Grande  into  Mexico,  where  it  is  said 
that  he  was  recruiting  soldiers  for  the  Mexican  army  under  a 
captain’s  commission,  the  truth  of  which  the  jurors  added, 
they  did  not  know.  That  he  afterwards  crossed  the  river  with 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


130 


many  persons  residents  of  Mexico,  and  was  joined  by  other 
Mexican  citizens  of  the  left  bank  of  tlie  river.  Of  the  fact 
that  all  Cortina’s  companions  were  Mexicans,  that  he  was  a 
fugitive  from  justice,  and  had  taken  refuge  in  Mexico  for  three 
months,  that  he  made  use  of  the  Mexican  flag,  to  the  cry  of 
“Hurrah  for  the  Mexican  Republic  ! ” The  jurors  conclude, 
that  there  had  been  an  invasion  by  armed  Mexicans,  under  the 
Mexican  flag,  with  hostile  intentions  towards  the  authorities  of 
the  State  and  the  nation.  That  in  view  of  the  activity  and  zeal 
with  which  the  authorities,  both  civil  and  military,  of  the 
State  of  Tamaulipas,  and  especially  of  Matamoros,  endeavored 
to  relieve  the  city  of  Brownsville  from  the  dangers  with  which 
it  was  surrounded,  they  were  unwilling  to  believe  that  the  lat- 
ter had  sustained  or  aided  this  piratical  invasion. 

The  report  continues  by  endeavoring  to  create  the  impres- 
sion, that  Cortina’s  revolt  was  an  act  of  invasion  supported  by 
the  Mexican  frontier.  It  states,  that  at  least  three-fourths  of 
Cortina’s  companions  had  until  then  resided  in  Mexico,  that  he 
had  received  a reinforcement  of  fifty  men,  who  arrived  from 
Monterey  under  the  command  of  an  officer;  that  not  long  since, 
he  had  received  the  reinforcement  of  another  corps  of  from 
thirty  to  sixty  men,  from  Victoria,  in  the  State  of  Tamaulipas, 
that  his  force  was  under  the  military  management  of  men  who 
had  acquired  their  knowledge  in  the  wars  of  Mexico,  and  that 
he,  on  his  expeditions  made  use  of  the  Mexican  flag.  That  for 
these  reasons  the  jury  were  convinced  that  the  Mexican  popu- 
lation in  Texas  were  united  in  a secret  society,  whose  purpose 
was  to  expel  the  Americans  from  the  Rio  Grande,  and  that  for 
this  object  they  were  in  secret  combination  with  some  of  the 
contending  parties  in  Mexico,  from  whom  they  received  arms 
and  ammunition  for  their  ulterior  designs,  the  immediate  dis- 
covery of  which  was  not  possible. 

It  concluded  by  expressing  the  hope  that  the  authorities  of 
the  State  would  make  use  of  their  influence  with  the  Federal 
Government  to  make  a treaty  or  obtain  other  guaranties  from 
the  Mexican  Government  in  such  manner  that  in  future  the  soil 
of  Texas  should  not  be  sullied  by  the  foot  of  the  invader,  nor 
the  blood  of  her  sons  spilled  by  the  hands  of  these. 


110 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


The  truth  is  ignored  in  this  report,  and  those  who  affected 
to  ignore  it  did  so  with  a perfect  knowledge  of  their  wrong 
doing. 

According  to  it  those  who  revolted  were  not  Texans  by 
naturalization  or  domicile,  hut  Mexican  citizens  residing  in 
Mexico.  It  was  not  a local  question,  but  a war  of  invasion 
supported  by  our  frontier,  and  it  was  supported  by  one  of  the 
contending  parties  in  the  republic  during  the  war  of  the 
reform.  Its  origin  was  not  questions  of  private  interest  but 
something  unknown,  ulterior  designs  on  the  part  of  Mexico. 

Some  criminals  broke  jail  at  the  city  of  Victoria,  in  Ta- 
maulipas,  and  fled  towards  the  Bravo  river,  in  search  of  that  pro- 
tection which  the  residents  of  the  left  bank  always  gave  to 
those  who  were  guilty  of  crime  in  Mexico,  and  this  fact  is  dis- 
torted into  a conflrmation  that  Tamaulipas  lent  its  support  to 
the  movement  which  took  place  in  Texas.  Our  people  were 
openly  reproached,  our  authorities,  though  not  so,  were  sus- 
pected, when  doubts  were  expressed  whether  a captain’s  com- 
mission had  been  issued  to  Cortina  under  which  he  was  organ- 
izing soldiers  with  which  to  invade  Texas.  They  were  unwill- 
ing to  believe  that  our  authorities,  after  their  zeal  and  activity 
in  protecting  Brownsville,  had  supported  Cortina,  but  tliey  did 
not  assert  a contrary  belief,  and  appeared  to  be  vacillating. 
They  spoke  of  Cortina’s  having  taken  refuge  in  our  territory 
when  he  was  a fugitive  from  Texas,  and  although  not  even 
they  themselves  said,  except  in  concealed  terms,  that  Cortina 
violated  the  neutrality  laws  of  Mexico,  they  reproached 
our  public  officers  with  not  molesting  him.  The  grand  jury 
who  did  this  placed  itself  in  contradiction  with  the  one  who, 
months  after,  acknowledged  Cortina’s  citizenship  by  indicting 
him  for  treason. 

It  placed  itself  in  contradiction  with  the  documents  in  its 
own  archives  where  were  recorded  the  votes  of  many  of  Cor- 
tina’s companions  ; it  placed  itself  in  opposition  to  what  its  own 
press  asserted  in  the  beginning  concerning  the  criminals  guilty 
of  crimes  committed  in  Mexico,  whom  they  had  stupidly  pro- 
tected on  the  left  bank  of  the  river,  and  who  were  Cortina’s 
companions ; they  placed  themselves  in  contradiction  with  the 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


141 


agents  of  the  United  States,  who  characterized  the  movement 
as  one  which  had  its  origin  in  Texas  and  was  supported  by 
Texans. 

All  this  was  done  for  a purpose,  and  that  the  United  States, 
exacting  guaranties  from  the  Mexican  Republic,  difficulties 
might  be  created  between  the  two  countries.  It  was  then  that  the 
“ motto  ” which  since  that  time  has  been  in  use  by  the  residents 
on  the  Texas  side  as  against  Mexico  had  its  origin — “ Compen- 
sation for  the  past,  guaranties  for  the  futureP 

Such  proceedings  appear  ungenerous  on  the  part  of  the 
people  of  Brownsville  when  but  a few  days  had  elapsed  since 
the  protection  of  the  Mexican  forces  had  saved  them  from 
greater  misfortunes.  It  appears  ungenerous  that  so  short  a 
time  after  this  occurrence  reproaches  and  accusations  should 
have  been  brought  against  our  country,  but  this  was  only  the 
beginning.  The  time  was  to  arrive  when  not  only  the  inhab- 
itants of  the  Mexican  side  of  the  river,  but  all  its  authorities, 
were  to  be  openly  accused  of  being  the  accomplices  of  Cortina, 
and  when  our  frontier  was  to  be  constantly  menaced  and  fre- 
quently invaded.  Cortina’s  revolt  now  formed  one  of  the  accu- 
sations made  against  the  republic.  It  is  now  asserted  that  Mexi- 
can forces  accompanied  Cortina.  (Uo.  1.)  (Report  of  the  United 
States  Commissioners  to  Texas,  page  29.)  Among  the  accusers 
are  Mifflin  Kennedy,  Adolpho  Glaevecke  and  several  others 
who  were  residents  of  Brownsville  at  that  time,  and  who  owed 
their  personal  safety  to  the  action  of  the  authorities  on  this 
side.  The  latter  especially  was  one  of  the  persons  against 
whom  the  rebels  entertained  the  deepest  hatred.  If  to-day 
those  parties  recollect  those  occurrences  it  is  not  to  show  their 
gratitude  to  the  Mexican  frontier,  but  to  present  heavy  claims 
against  Mexico  for  losses  which  they  allege  they  suffered  during 
Cortina’s  raid.  Cortina  continued  within  the  territory  of  the 
United  States  until  shortly  after  his  defeat,  which  occurred  on 
the  29th  of  December,  1859.  The  Mexican  authorities  from  the 
commencement  foresaw  the  possibility  that  parties  belonging 
to  Cortina  might  cross  into  Mexico,  and  had  been  giving  their 
orders  in  anticipation  of  this  occurrence. 

On  the  3d  of  October,  1859,  the  gefatura  politica  of  the 


142 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


northern  district,  fearing  tliat  the  dispersed  belonging  to  the 
hand  of  Juan  N.  Cortina  in  the  neiglihorhood  of  Brownsville 
might  pass  over  to  this  side,  directed  the  formation  of  patrols 
to  patrol  the  pastures  and  arrest  all  unknown  persons  or  those 
whom  they  had  reason  to  believe  ought  to  be  tried  and  sentenced 
as  vagrants.  At  the  same  time  the, municipality  of  Matamoros 
gave  its  orders  to  have  the  directions  of  the  gefatura  carried 
out.  On  the  fourth  of  the  same  month  the  chief  of  police  of 
the  East  answered  that  he  had  taken  his  measures  for  the  pur- 
pose mentioned  in  the  foregoing  communication,  notwithstand- 
ing the  greater  part  of  that  force  had  crossed  by  way  of  the 
“ Sabinito.” 

On  the  twenty-fourth  of  the  same  month,  the  military  com- 
mandant at  Matamoros,  fearful  that  Cortina  might  again  pass 
over  to  this  side  by  way  of  the  Sabinito  ranche,  placed  a detach- 
ment there,  with  orders  to  watch  the  fordsof  the  river,  and  prevent 
the  passage  of  any  of  the  armed  forces  whicji  were  with  Juan 
IS”.  Cortina,  to  arrest  the  fugitives  from  the  prison  at  Victoria, 
Tamaulipas,  who  it  was  said  had  marched  in  the  direction  of 
the  Bravo  river,  and  had  been  seen  at  a ranche  to  the  north  of 
the  jurisdiction  of  San  Fernando. 

In  the  month  of  December,  Juan  IST.  Cortina  with  his  force 
went  up  the  river  to  Eio  Grande  City,  Star  county.  The  Mexi- 
can authorities  then  displayed  the  greatest  vigilance  along  the 
bank  of  the  river,  the  strictest  watch  was  kept  on  Cortina’s 
movements,  and  none  of  them  failed  to  be  reported.  At  the 
time  of  his  defeat,  and  when  it  appeared  imminent  that  he  would 
cross  into  Mexico,  the  vigilance  was  increased,  and  orders  mul- 
tiplied to  prevent  if  possible  his  crossing. 

The  Mexican  authorities  considered  Cortina’s  continuance 
on  the  Texas  side  as  a menace  to  the  people  and  property  in 
Mexico ; his  crossing  as  an  act  of  invasion  ; his  permanence  on 
our  frontier  as  an  act  of  hostility  which  demanded  sacrifice  on 
the  part  of  the  government  to  remedy,  and  which  kept  that 
part  of  the  republic  in  a state  of  constant  alarm.  This  alarm 
■was  so  much  the  greater  inasmuch  as  the  nation  was  then 
fighting  for  its  liberties  in  the  war  of  reform.  The  frontier 
forces  were  participating  in  this  struggle  in  the  interior  of  the 


KORTHERX  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


Ii3 

country,  and  the  menaces  towards  the  population  increased  in 
proportion  with  the  scarcity  of  their  elements  for  defending 
hemselves. 

Nevertheless  the  Mexican  authorities  fulfilled  their  duties. 
They  dispatched  forces  to  quell  these  disturbances,  and  confided 
the  undertaking  to  General  Guadalupe  Garcia.  The  character 
of  this  campaign  was  exceptional.  Extensive  wastes  and  thick 
forests  on  the  frontier  permitted  an  easy  escape  and  a safe 
refuge  to  a band,  which  the  smaller  its  numbers  the  greater 
would  be  its  faculties  for  escaping  pursuit.  The  campaign  was 
not  one  in  Avhich  there  was  even  skirmishing.  Cortina’s  party, 
too  weak  to  resist  any  attack,  constantly  fled,  and  the  pursuit 
had  to  be  as  tenacious  as  the  flight  to  prevent  him  from  reorgan- 
izing. It  was  so,  but  it  is  easily  understood  that  its  consumma- 
tion could  not  be  the  work  of  a moment,  that  only  by  continual 
pursuit  and  after  a certain  length  of  time,  could  a result  be 
reached. 

Not  only  the  superior  authorities  contributed  to  carry  out 
this  end,  but  the  towns  also.  Forces  were  organized  in  them 
which  aided  these  operations.  In  their  archives  are  found  con- 
stant notices  concerning  the  movements  of  Cortina  and  his 
men,  they  facilitated  everything  because  the  support  was  gen- 
eral. General  Garcia  was  taken  sick,  the  geffe  politico  of  the 
district  took  command  of  the  force,  and  in  June  of  1860,  suc- 
ceeded in  driving  Juan  N.  Cortina  from  the  bank  of  the  river ; 
he  took  refuge  in  the  Burgos  Mountains,  and  was  not  heard  of 
for  a long  time.  The  military  authorities  even  exceeded  their 
powers.  At  the  end  of  April,  1860,  they  made  an  arrange- 
ment with  the  officer  commanding  the  United  States  forces  to 
cross  a cavalry  force  into  Mexico,  which  in  company  with  that 
under  the  command  of  Major  Jose  Maria  Zuniga  was  to  pur- 
sue Cortina;  Major  Zuniga  did  not  go  upon  the  expedition,  but 
Major  Cecilio  Salazar  did,  and  was  directed  to  place  himself  in 
concert  with  the  officer  commanding  the  American  forces,  for 
the  better  execution  of  his  commission,  if  it  had  already  crossed 
the  river.  This  force  which  was  to  visit  Mexico,  by  virtue  of 
the  agreement  of  April,  1860,  did  not  finally  cross,  but  by 
these  arrangements,  which  were  beyond  the  attributes  of  the 


144 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


military  authority  on  the  frontier,  and  which  the  Commission 
is  compelled  to  condemn,  is  shown  the  desii'e  on  the  part  of 
those  officers  to  obtain  the  destruction  of  Cortina’s  band. 

The  Mexican  authorities  not  only  engaged  in  the  pursuit  of 
it  but  also  in  its  suppression.  A large  number  of  the  individ- 
uals who  accompanied  Cortina,  and  whose  names  appear  in  the 
“ espedientes,”  were  arrested  and  tried  by  court  martial.  By 
the  instructions  given  on  the  25th  of  May,  1860,  by  the  com- 
mander of  the  Bravo  line  to  Major  Cecilio  Salazar,  engaged  in 
the  pursuit  of  Cortina,  he  was  ordered  to  shoot  all  of  those  be- 
longing to  the  band  whom  he  might  arrest  or  apprehend.  In 
compliance  with  this  order,  Florencio  Hernandez  was  shot.  On 
the  5th  of  duly,  1860,  in  addition  to  those  who  had  been 
already  imprisoned,  the  military  judge  ordered  the  imprison- 
ment of  fifteen  individuals  who,  it  Avas  said,  had  accompanied 
the  North  American  Juan  N.  Cortina  on  his  invasion  into 
Mexico,  and  who  had  taken  refuge  at  some  of  the  ranchos. 
The  arrest  of  the  greater  part  of  these  was  effected,  and  they 
were  tried  ; the  result  of  Avhieh  trial  the  Commission  is  not  in- 
formed of,  as  the  archives  have  been  lost. 

The  documents  relating  to  the  occurrences  of  that  time 
show  that,  while  the  zeal  of  the  Mexican  authorities  increased, 
Texas  became  more  exacting.  She  could  not  prevent  Cortina 
and  his  forces  from  invading  our  frontier,  and  Mexico  had  just 
ground  of  complaint  because  the  State  of  Texas  showed  itself 
unable  or  unwilling  to  carry  out  its  laws  on  the  banks  of  the 
Rio  Bravo,  and  also  because  disturbances  were  there  created 
which,  during  several  months,  were  a menace  to  our  lines,  a 
menace  which  afterwards  resulted  in  an  invasion.  Mexico 
had  to  defend  herself  against  this,  because  she  had  already  suf- 
ficient elements  of  anarchy  within  her  own  limits,  and  she 
could  not  allow  those  emanating  from  Texas  to  be  added  to 
them.  Mexico,  for  the  space  of  six  months,  was  under  the 
necessity  of  keeping  an  army  in  the  field,  and  suffered  from  the 
natural  consequences  of  such  a situation.  But,  notwithstand- 
ing all  this,  the  tables  were  turned.  Complaint  was  made 
against  Mexico  because  she  did  not  speedily  exterminate  Cor- 
tina’s band ; she  was  criminated  and  accused  of  having  given 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


145 


liim  support  and  protection  on  onr  soil.  A volunteer  force  of 
Texans  was  organized  (the  rangers),  men  without  discipline, 
who  made  a series  of  invasions  on  the  Mexican  frontier  and 
there  committed  the  greatest  excesses. 

The  condition  of  onr  towns  on  the  frontier  was  then  most 
difficult.  It  was  necessary  for  them  to  be  organized  to  ])rotect 
themselves  against  the  menace  of  the  Texan  force,  and  at  the 
same  time  protect  themselves  against  Cortina’s  hand.  Docu- 
ments in  the  archiv^es  and  the  orders  issued  show  this  situation, 
and  the  effort  made  to  save  it.  The  necessity  of  being  on  the 
■watch  against  the  Texas  volunteers  prevented  a more  effica- 
cious pursuit  against  Cortina. 

These  aggressions  and  the  menaces  made  at  that  time 
against  the  Mexican  line  by  the  Texans,  show  the  desire  to  in- 
volve both  frontiers  in  a conflict  in  which  the  two  nations  would 
subsequently  become  involved.  They  could  not  have  believed 
that  Cortina  would  And  sympathy  with  our  authorities,  because 
they  must  have  had  the  recollection  of  the  proceedings  of  these 
in  previous  months.  In  October  of  1859,  Brownsville  had  no  * 
forces  of  any  kind  whatever.  Indifference  at  this  time  on  the 
part  of  the  Mexican  authorities  would  have  been  sufficient  to 
have  allowed  this  city  to  have  become  the  victim  of  its  enemy. 
They  lent  the  aid  of  their  forces,  and  when  they  so  conducted 
themselves  at  the  time  when  Cortina’s  revolt  was  in  force,  and 
only  required  inaction  on  their  part,  it  is  unreasonable  to  sup- 
pose that  they  would  await  the  moment  when  Cortina  should 
be  routed,  a fugitive,  and  without  men  to  aid  him,  and  then 
give  him  their  sympathy.  It  was  certainly  unreasonable,  but 
nevertheless  they  pretended  to  believe  it  in  order  to  decide  the 
United  States  to  take  hostile  measures  against  Mexico. 

Colonel  Lockridge  said,  in  a correspondence  of  the  28th  of 
December,  1859  : 

“ It  is  reserved  for  the  future  to  decide,  whether  the  gov- 
ernment will  require  from  the  Mexican  government  the  deliv- 
ery of  Cortina,  and  in  the  event  of  the  latter’s  refusal,  whether 
this  will  not  be  a sufficient  cause  for  the  immediate  occupation 
of  the  northern  part  of  Mexico  by  our  troops,  until  they  ‘in- 
demnify us  for  the  past  and  give  us  guaranties  for  the  future.’ 

10 


146 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


\ Oil  may  be  assured  that  this  is  the  opinion  of  every  American 
now  serving  in  the  army.  It  is  undeniable  that  Cortina  lias 
received  assistance  and  reinforcement  from  Mexico,  and  even 
that  he  has  crossed  the  river,  and  that  they  have  publicly  re- 
ceived him  at  Matamoros,  Reynosa,  and  other  points  on  the 
Rio  Grande.-’ — xhnerican  Flag,  Brownsville,  Jan’y  5th,  1860. 

It  appears  that  these  intentions  were  not  overlooked  by  the 
American  Government.  This  is  revealed  in  a proclamation 
addressed  to  the  people  of  Texas  by  Governor  Samuel  Houston, 
on  iSlarch  24th,  1860.  In  the  part  of  it  relating  to  the  disturb- 
ances on  the  Rio  Bravo,  he  stated  tliat  he  considered  it  to  be 
his  duty  to  communicate  to  his  fellow  citizens  the  efforts  made 
by  him  to  obtain  the  assistance  of  the  Federal  Government  on 
behalf  of  the  frontier  which  had  been  outraged  by  robbers 
organized  in  Mexico : 

“ I believed  it  to  be  my  duty,”  he  said,  “ to  defer  to  tlie 
authority  of  the  United  States  with  regard  to  the  invasion  of 
our  soil  by  Mexico.  ^ - With  a barbarous  and  cunning 

enemy  at  our  doors,  there  was  sufiicieut  reason  for  my  address- 
ing the  Federal  autliorities.  Fearing  that  the  thousand  rumors 
with  regard  to  my  intentions  concerning  Mexico  might  oiierate 
adversely  to  the  employment  of  our  volunteers  and  the  sending 
of  arms,  and  desirous  of  insisting  upon  the  necessity  that  the 
Federal  authorities  should  protect  Texas,  on  the  12th  instant 
(March,  1860),  I addressed  the  Secretary  of  War  the  following 
communication.” 

In  this  communication  Governor  Houston  refers  to  a tele- 
gram from  Washington  of  the  3d  of  March,  published  in  a Xew 
Orleans  paper,  which  telegram  said  : 

“ The  President  has  disapproved  of  Governor  Houston’s 
conduct  in  calling  out  the  Texas  volunteers  for  the  defense  of 
the  frontier.” 

He  States,  that  it  is  not  true  that  he  had  sent  troops  to  the 
Rio  Bravo  ; that  far  from  this,  when  he  assumed  the  government, 
that  he  discharged  four  companies  who  ivere  on  the  Rio  Grande, 
and  that  two  were  subsequently  organized  by  the  advice  of  the 
Texas  commissioners,  who  conferred  upon  the  subject  with 
Major  Heintzleman  of  the  United  States  army,  and  that  these 
were  under  his  orders. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


147 


If  1 had  consulted f says  the  communication,  “ the  wishes 
and  desires  of  my  fellow-citizens^  I would  have  called  into  the 
service  all  the  disposable  forces  of  Texas,  1 would  have  crossed 
the  Rio  Grande,  and  never  have  recrossed  it  without  hawing 
obtained  ‘ guaranties  for  the  future' 

“The  government  of  the  United  States,  perhaps  crediting 
rumors  and  newspaper  articles,  supposes  that  I entertained 
some  covert  design  of  invading  Mexico.  * * ^ It  is  true, 

tliat  since  1857,  I have  been  written  to  from  various  places  in 
the  United  States,  urging  me  to  invade  Mexico  with  a view  to 
establishing  a protectorate,  and  assuring  me,  that  men,  money 
and  arms  would  be  placed  at  my  disposal  if  I took  part  in  the 
undertaking.  To  these  suggestions  I have  replied  unfavorably, 
although  as  an  individual  I might  have  co-operated  by  placing 
myself  without  the  jurisdiction  of  the  United  States.  Nor  was 
the  security  wanting  that  a large  portion  of  the  Mexican  popu- 
lation would  receive  and  co-operate  with  me,  towards  the  estab- 
lishment of  order  in  their  country.  Nevertheless  I have  re- 
mained quiet  and  silent,  under  the  hope  that  the  government  of 
the  United  States  will  consummate  a policy  which  must  be,  and 
which  will  be  carried  out,  if  the  wretched  inhabitants  of  this 
beautiful  region  are  to  be  exposed  to  destruction  in  a conflict 
loith  robbers." 

The  intention  thus  of  producing  a conflict  with  Mexico  came 
not  only  from  the  civil  and  military  authorities  which  Texas 
had  on  its  borders,  but  from  its  high  offlcers.  For  this  purpose 
the  facts  were  first  distorted,  and  afterwards  followed  a series 
of  aggressions  for  w’hich  Cortina  was  the  pretext.  It  was  well 
known  that  Cortina,  subsequent  to  his  defeat,  was  a fugitive 
and  a wanderer,  with  but  few  of  his  companions,  and  that  not 
only  was  it  impossible  for  him  to  undertake  any  attack  upon 
the  left  bank  of  the  river,  but  not  even  to  defend  himself 
against  his  pursuers.  Nevertheless  importance  was  pretended 
to  be  attached  to  him  to  maintain  the  excitement  among  the 
people  of  the  United  States,  and  drag  their  government  into 
projects  of  invasion  under  the  semblance  of  “ guaranties  for  the 
future.”  There  were  not  wanting  in  General  Houston’s  proc- 
lamation the  inducements  which  filibustering  always  present 
to  deceive  the  incautious  by  supposing  a mass  of  the  people 
anxious  for  the  invasion  of  the  republic,  and  ready  to  aid  the 
invasion.  All  means  w^ere  brought  into  play  to  deceive  the 


148 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


people  and  the  government  of  the  United  States.  The  question 
betAveen  the  Xorth  and  the  South  Avas  then  being  agitated,  and 
Governor  Houston  endeavored  to  find  a solution  of  it  by  a Av^ar 
Avith  Mexico  on  the  Cortina  question.  A political  resort  Avas 
sought  in  it  for  the  internal  questions  existing  in  the  United 
States. 

After  the  volunteers  Avere  removed  from  the  banks  of  the 
Bravo  the  government  of  Texas  became  convinced  that  their 
intentions  Avere  not  supported  by  the  government  of  the  United 
States,  and  the  difficulties  on  the  Rio  Grande  subsided,  and 
thus,  notAvithstanding  Cortina  Avas  not  driven  from  those  places 
until  the  month  of  June,  and  yet  from  April  to  June  no  diffi- 
culties of  any  kind  occurred.  This  conclusively  shoAVS  that  an 
artificial  life  had  been  given  to  him  in  Texas,  and  that  Avhen  it 
ceased  to  serve  as  a political  means  for  more  extended  purposes, 
that  he  resumed  his  natural  proportions. 


XIII. 

After  Juan  N.  Cortina  took  refuge  in  the  mountains  of 
Burgos,  nothing  Avas  heard  of  him  till  the  folloAving  year,  and 
after  the  Confederate  Avar  had  broken  out.  The  Clareno  ranche 
in  Texas  had  been  attacked  by  the  Confederates  and  several 
Mexicans  killed.  Cortina  then  came  doAvn  to  the  edge  of  the 
river,  and  aided  by  the  refugees  and  some  Mexicans  from  Guer- 
rero, he  invaded  Texas  by  Avay  of  the  Carrizo,  in  May  of  1861. 
On  the  tweijty-third  of  this  same  month,  he  Avas  defeated,  and 
this  Avas  his  last  attempt  on  Texas. 

He  continued  a wandering  life  in  Tamaulipas.  At  the  end 
of  1861,  Jesus  de  la  Serna  was  declared  Governor  of  this  State ; 
a revolution  ensued  against  him,  in  which  Matamoros  and 
Tampico  refused  to  recognize  him.  Tamaulipas  was  for  some 
time  the  theater  of  a civil  war,  and  Cortina  endeavored  to  par- 
ticipate in  it  on  behalf  of  Governor  Serna.  He  made  his  first 
approaches  to  the  authorities  at  Reynosa,  but  these  refused  to 
accept  his  co-operation,  to  avoid  complications  with  the  Confed- 


NORTHERX  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


149 


€rates.  His  second  attempt  was  with  the  forces  who  were  be- 
sieging Matamoros,  hut  the  officers  in  command  of  these  decided 
that  Cortina  ought  not  to  be  employed  except  in  the  interior  of 
the  State,  and  at  a distance  from  tlie  river.  He  then  retired, 
and  placed  himself  under  the  orders  of  General  Martin  Zayas, 
M'ho  was  operating  about  Victoria,  Tamaulipas,  and  with  whom 
he  remained  during  that  local  war. 

The  republic  at  this  time  was  menaced  by  the  European 
intervention.  The  Federal  government,  in  order  to  terminate 
the  conflict  in  Tamaulipas,  at  the  end  of  December,  1861,  de- 
clared it  to  be  in  a state  of  siege,  and  appointed  Santiago  Yi- 
daurri,  the  governor  of  Jsuevo  Leon,  the  governor  and  military 
commandant ; he  transferred  his  powers  to  General  Ignacio 
Comonfort.  The  contending  forces  were  ordered  to  place  them- 
selves under  the  orders  of  this  latter ; some  obeyed  and  others 
disbanded — J uau  N.  Cortina  was  among  the  former.  By  these 
means,  he  succeeded  in  confirming  his  position  in  Mexico,  and 
entering  the  army  against  the  European  intervention.  He 
passed  through  the  campaign  at  Puebla  and  other  places  in  the 
interior,  until  August  or  September  of  1863,  when  he  was  sent 
to  Matamoros  in  command  of  a force  of  cavalry.  General  Man- 
uel Ruiz  being  at  this  time  governor  and  military  commandant 
of  Tamaulipas.  At  the  time  of  Cortina’s  arrival  at  Matamoros 
he  held  the  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel  of  cavalry  in  the  militia. 
The  Commission  is  not  informed  of  the  reasons  or  how  he 
reached  this  position. 

The  situation  of  the  republic  at  this  time  was  most  critical 
and  deplorable ; the  Mexican  armies  of  the  center  and  the  east, 
at  San  Lorenzo  and  Puebla,  had  been  defeated  by  the  invading 
forces;  the  city  of  Mexico  abandoned  by  the  Federal  govern- 
ment, and  it  ready  to  leave  San  Luis  for  refuge  on  the  northern 
frontier,  with  the  doubtful  co-operation  of  Santiago  Yidaurri, 
the  governor  of  JIuevo  Leon,  without  resources  and  surrounded 
by  enemies,  its  position  could  not  have  been  more  discouraging. 

During  these  moments  Lieutenant-colonel  Juan  X.  Cortina 
commenced  a series  of  revolutions  at  Matamoros,  all  with  a 
view  to  improving  his  position.  He  formed  a league  with  Jose 
Maria  Cohos,  a Spaniard  by  birth,  and  a reactionary  general  of 


150 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


Mexico,  Tvlio  had  taken  refuge  at  Brownsville.  This  person 
gathered  together  a certain  number  of  French,  Spaniards,  and 
Mexicans,  with  whom  he  crossed  to  Matamoros,  on  the  night 
of  the  5th  of  October,  1S63.  Lieutenant-colonel  Cortina,  wdio 
Avas  the  officer  of  the  day,  pronounced  with  his  corps,  and  made 
such  others  pronounce  with  whose  subaltern  officers  he  was  in  con- 
nivance. Some  officers  succeeded  in  escaping,  and  others,  among 
them  Governor  Euiz,  were  thrown  into  prison.  The  rebel- 
lion assumed  a reactionary  character ; Cohos  refused  to 
recognize  the  constitution  of  1857,  and  proclaimed  himself  in 
command  of  the  forces.  It  Avas  clearly  a movement  in  behalf 
of  the  intervention.  The  AueAA's  of  Cobos  were  to  organize  his 
elements  in  such  a manner  as  to  make  them  dependent  upon 
himself,  doubtless  for  the  purpose  of  getting  rid  of  Cortina ; 
but  he  had  no  time  to  realize  his  intentions.  On  the  night  of 
the  6th,  Cortina  threAv  Cobos  and  his  second  in  command, 
Eomulo  Yilla,  a Spaniard,  into  prison,  and,  on  the  morning  of 
the  2d,  shot  them  both. 

On  that  same  day  Cortina  again  recognized  Governor  Euiz, 
and  he  conferred  upon  him  the  rank  of  colonel ; but,  at  the 
same  time  that  he  did  this,  he  endeavored  to  get  the  national 
guard  of  Matamoros  together,  and  place  himself  in  a condition 
to  control  Cortina.  Cortina,  a few  hours  later,  again  revolted ; 
but,  still  keeping  his  rank  of  colonel,  issued  a proclamation 
raising  the  state  of  seige,  and  calling  upon  Jesus  de  la  Serna 
to  take  charge  of  the  government  of  the  State.  The  latter  was 
apparently  in  command,  the  former  Avas  in  reality  so. 

Governor  Euiz  had  succeeded  in  escaping,  the  federal  gov- 
ernment placed  a force,  which  Avas  marching  on  Matamoros, 
under  his  command.  Arrangements  were  entered  into  between 
Euiz  and  Cortina,  the  result  of  Avhich  Avas  that,  on  the  first  of 
January,  Euiz  took  possession  of  Matamoros,  and  the  latter 
Avas  to  leave  to  join  the  campaign  at  Tampico.  Cortina  de- 
layed his  departure  ; another  confiict  ensued  on  the  12tli  of 
January,  in  Avhich  Euiz’s  forces  were  defeated.  Cortina  there- 
upon proclaimed  himself  governor  and  military  commandant 
of  the  State  of  Tamaidipas,  and  protested  his  obedience  to  the 
supreme  government. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


151 


The  situation  of  the  country  could  not  have  been  more 
arduous. 

After  the  President  abandoned  San  Luis  Potosi,  it  was  oc- 
cupied by  the  forces  of  the  intervention,  and  General  Negrete 
who  attacked  the  place  was  defeated.  Vidanrri,  the  governor 
of  Nuevo  Leon,  had  refused  to  recognize  the  federal  govern- 
ment, which  remained  at  Saltillo  without  the  means  of  action, 
and  it  was  in  these  moments  that  the  occurrences  which  we  just 
mentioned  took  place.  They  were  more  serious  than  they 
appeared  to  be  upon  a first  view.  Matamoros,  in  consequence 
of  the  blockade  of  the  ports  of  Texas,  had  become  a great 
commercial  center  for  the  exploration  of  cotton  and  the  trade 
with  Texas ; its  resources  amounted  to  a considerable  sum,  and 
they  were  the  only  ones  at  the  disposal  of  the  government. 
It,  under  these  most  difficult  circumstances,  accepted  the  con- 
dition of  things  which  had  been  consummated  at  Matamoros, 
and  shortly  after  conferred  the  rank  of  general  on  Cortina. 
While  General  Cortina  was  governor,  about  the  middle  of 
1861,  he  entered  into  double  negotiations  with  the  Confederates 
and  the  agents  of  the  United  States.  The  result  of  the  former 
was  a species  of  convention  partly  commercial  and  partly 
political,  in  which  Colonel  John  S.  Ford  represented  the  Con- 
federates. The  convention  was  circulated  among  the  Mexican 
towns  on  the  banks  of  the  river  on  the  Jth  of  June,  1861. 
One  of  its  most  important  stipulations  was,  that  it  obliged  the 
authorities  on  both  sides  of  the  river  to  permit  the  goods  be- 
longing to  both  governments  to  cross  to  either  side  at  the 
necessary  points.  It  is  clear  that  a convention  of  such  a 
nature  could  only  be  of  value  to  the  Confederates.  But  while 
Cortina  by  these  means  was  endeavoring  to  eradicate  the  want 
of  confidence  towards  himself  on  the  part  of  the  Confederates, 
he  was  engaged  in  more  important  negotiations  with  Pierce, 
the  United  States  consul  at  Matamoros,  and  with  the  officer  in 
command  of  the  forces  of  the  same  nation,  stationed  at  Brazos 
Santiago.  The  Commission  has  been  unable  to  precisely  as- 
certain the  tenor  of  those  negotiations,  but  they  may  be  pre- 
sumed from  their  results.  The  French  had  landed  at  Bagdad 
(the  mouth  of  the  river) ; General  Cortina  went  out  to  attack 


152 


REPOET  OF  COMMITTEE. 


them,  j^sotice  was  spread  among  liis  forces  that  he  had  a safe 
retreat  in  tlie  event  of  experiencing  a reverse,  because  he  had 
made  arrangements  with  the  officers  of  the  United  States  to 
cross  with  his  force  into  Texas  in  the  event  of  this  occurring. 
He  advanced  on  Bagdad  the  beginning  of  September,  1861: ; 
he  fought  the  French  on  the  6th  at  night ; he  retired  to  Burrita, 
at  which  place  he  directed  part  of  his  forces  to  cross  to  the 
American  side,  where  they  were  met  by  a company  of  United 
States  dragoons.  The  Confederates,  who  doubtless  had  notice 
of  what  was  occurring,  left  Brownsville  and  made  two  attacks 
upon  the  American  and  Mexican  forces,  one  at  Tulito  and  the 
other  at  Casa  Blanca,  in  both  of  which  they  were  repulsed. 

General  Cortina,  with  the  remainder  of  his  forces,  returned 
to  Matamoros,  and  this  fact  as  well  as  the  fact  that  the  Mexican 
force  was  met  by  a company  of  United  States  dragoons,  shows 
that  the  attack  on  Bagdad,  and  the  retreat  to  the  United  States 
in  the  event  of  a reverse,  w^ere  a pretext  for  placing  his  forces, 
or  part  of  them,  at  the  disposal  of  the  commanding  officer  of 
the  United  States  against  the  Confederates.  There  are  grounds 
for  presuming  that  Cortina,  a long  time  before,  had  been  offered 
the  command  of  a regiment  of  Mexicans  in  Texas,  as  the  per- 
son best  adapted  to  carry  on  the  war  on  the  banks  of  the  Bio 
Grande  on  account  of  his  old  antipathies  against  those  who 
subsequently  became  Confederates.  There  are  also  slight  indi- 
cations that,  for  the  purpose  of  preventing  Cortina  from  join- 
ing the  forces  of  the  hTorth,  General  Magruder  issued  a com- 
mission as  a confederate  general,  and  gave  instructions  to  have 
it  offered  to  him,  together  with  four  hundred  bales  of  cotton. 
It  appears  that  the  negotiation  was  not  initiated  with  Cortina. 
He  was  now  serving  the  Mexican  republic  ; its  situation  was 
compromised,  because  all  the  frontier  was  in  the  possession  of 
the  Imperialists.  After  having  placed  a portion  of  his  forces 
at  the  disposal  of  the  commanding  officer  of  the  United  States 
at  Brazos,  he,  with  the  remainder,  in  September,  1865,  sub- 
mitted to  the  empire.  The  commencement  of  the  following 
year,  when  General  Xegrete  was  approaching  Matamoros, 
General  Cortina  revolted  against  the  empire.  From  that  time 
he  has  continued  in  the  service  of  the  republic,  on  the  frontier 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


153 


up  to  the  beginuing  of  1867,  and  in  the  interior,  or  the  State 
of  Tamaulipas,  up  to  1870,  at  which  time  he  returned  to  the 
line  of  the  Bravo. 


XIY. 

Two  kinds  of  feelings  have  predominated  against  General 
Cortina  on  the  Texas  frontier,  or  rather  a single  feeling  under 
two  aspects,  a personal  hatred  due  to  his  revolt  in  1859,  and  a 
political  hatred  arising  from  his  league  with  the  northern  forces 
in  1864-.  lie  was  also  considered  a source  of  disquietude. 
That  hatred  and  this  disquietude  gave  rise  to  two  different 
opinions  upon  General  Cortina’s  return  to  the  frontier  in  1870  ; 
some  thought  it  desirable  that  the  authorities  of  Texas  should 
pardon  Cortina ; they  deemed  that  by  confirming  his  position 
in  the  United  States  that  all  grounds  of  fear  would  be  re- 
moved ; others  tenaciously  opposed  the  pai’don.  Cortina,  at 
the  beginning  of  1871,  addressed  a petition  to  the  government 
of  Texas  asking  for  a pardon  ; it  was  submitted  to  the  legis- 
lature of  the  State,  inasmuch  as  it  involved  the  making  of  a 
law  or  the  passing  of  an  act,  as  he  had  never  been  sentenced 
upon  the  indictments  pending  against  him.  This  petition  was 
urged  by  various  residents  of  Cameron  County,  and,  among 
them,  Mifflin  Kennedy,  as  there  were  also  indictments  pending 
against  Cortina  in  Star  County,  a certain  number  of  the  in- 
habitants there  were  also  in  favor  of  the  pardon.  One  of  the 
reasons  by  which  they  supported  it  was  the  important  protec- 
tion given  by  Cortina  during  the  years  1864  and  1865  to 
American  citizens  belonging  to  the  Union  party  during  the 
late  civil  war. 

These  petitions  were  favorably  received  by  the  legislature 
of  the  State  of  Texas,  but  the  rest  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
United  States  frontier,  particularly  at  Brownsville,  where  they 
opposed  all  idea  of  a compromise  with  Cortina,  succeeded  in 
dissipating  the  favorable  impressions  which  had  been  created. 

Simultaneously  with  these  petitions  for  pardon,  the  accusa- 


154: 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


tion  was  originated  against  General  Cortina  that  he  protected 
cattle  stealing  in  Texas.  Previously  they  talked  about  bands 
organized  in  Mexico,  of  the  protection  given  by  the  authorities, 
but  never  had  any  direct  charge  been  brought  against  General 
Cortina  until  the  question  of  his  pardon  was  agitated.  It  is 
incredible  that  when  this  matter  presented  so  favorable  an  as- 
pect, that  General  Cortina  would  have  jeopardized  the  result 
by  taking  an  active  part  in  cattle  stealing.  The  antecedents 
make  it  presumable  that  these  accusations  were  the  machina- 
tions of  his  enemies  to  defeat  the  pardon,  because  it  was  impos- 
sible that  this  would  be  granted  to  a person  who,  at  the  mo- 
ment of  soliciting  it,  was  rendering  himself  guilty  of  new 
crimes.  Of  those  who  had  previously  supported  the  pardon 
the  greater  number  retracted,  to  follow  the  stronger  current. 
That  which  at  its  commencement  was  an  intrigue,  subsequently 
became  converted  into  a system.  The  former  was  merely  per- 
sonal in  its  purposes ; the  latter  was  more  extended  in  its  views, 
because  it  arrived  at  the  conclusion  that  it  was  necessary  to  de- 
mand from  Mexico  “compensation  for  past  injuries,  and  guar- 
anties for  the  future.” 

This  system  was  continuous,  l^o  crime  was  committed  on 
the  Texas  side  in  which  General  Cortina’s  influence  was  not 
seen  ; his  desire  was  to  make  war  upon  the  Americans.  JSTot  a 
cow  was  stolen  in  Texas,  but  General  Cortina’s  hand  was  dis- 
covered in  it.  When  a fact  really  occurred,  it  was  disguised 
under  the  darkest  colors,  and  when  there  were  no  facts,  these 
were  invented. 

But  before  commencing  the  analysis  of  these,  the  Commis- 
sion should  refer  to  a circumstance  which  has  most  singularly 
favored  those  accusations.  The  revolution  at  Monterey  was 
threatening  when,  on  the  first  of  October,  1871,  General  Cor- 
tina commenced  the  organization  of  a cavalry  corps  called 
“ Fieles  de  Cwtina^'^  composed  in  its  greater  part  of  adven- 
turers from  both  frontiers.  The  Commission  have  ascertained 
in  its  investigation,  that  many  people  of  the  worst  reputation 
joined  it.  Later,  he  organized  another  corps  called  Explora- 
dores,^’’  consisting  in  part  of  the  same  characters. 

Before  this  oceurred,  the  charges  were  made  with  special 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION.  155 

reference  to  General  Cortina.  No  other  officer  or  soldier  of 
the  army  was  mentioned,  because  in  reality  there  was  none 
other  to  accuse,  and  consequently  the  reproaches  were  confined 
to  general  statements  as  to  robbers  organized  in  Mexico  under 
the  protection  of  General  Cortina.  At  most  the  Lugos,  or 
some  other  notorious  robber,  of  those  who  were  marauding  on 
both  frontiers,  was  named,  and  of  these  it  was  said  they  were 
Cortina’s  accomplices. 

But  from  the  moment  of  the  organization  of  the  corps  of 
“Fieles  de  Cortina”  there  was  something  definite.  Men  were 
seen  in  the  service  who  had  been  in  prison  for  robbery,  or 
whom  the  public  considered  guilty  of  these  crimes ; several 
of  them  were  known  to  have  been  accomplices  in  the  cattle 
stealing  which  had  been  committed  in  Texas,  and  therefore  the 
accusations  had  a greater  appearance  of  truth. 

Other  circumstances  occurred  which  might  well  have  caused 
the  best  disposed  to  doubt.  That  force  consisted  principally  of 
men  undisciplined  and  immoral,  and  who  remained  but  a short 
time  in  the  service.  They  frequently  deserted,  stealing  both  the 
horse  they  rode  and  their  arms  ; several  of  them  did  so  within  a 
few  days,  and  others  after  two  or  three  months  of  service.  In 
order  to  avoid  the  pursuit  to  which  they  were  exposed  on 
account  of  their  desei’tion,  they  took  refuge  in  Texas,  where, 
in  all  probability,  they  returned  to  their  previous  life  of  crime 
and  robbery. 

It  was  natural  that  anybody  who  might  have  seen  these 
individuals  among  General  Cortina’s  forces  the  day  before,  and 
'on  the  following  one  should  see  them  in  Texas,  although  not 
admitting  the  accusations  made  against  this  latter,  would 
vacillate  with  regard  to  Ins  conduct,  especially  if  the  former 
were  found  complicated  in  any  robbery. 

In  the  complaints  brought  against  Mexico,  these  circum- 
stances have  been  made  use  of.  The  guilty  have  been  sought 
among  those  who  served  in  the  corps  of“rielesde  Cortina,” 
or  “ Exploradores,”  but  as  the  people  of  Texas  were  ignorant  of 
the  length  of  time  during  which  the  parties  they  accused  were 
in  the  service,  the  result  has  been  that  when  they  have  fixed  a 
date  for  the  occurrences  stated  by  them,  the  latter  appear  to 


4 


156 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


have  been  prior  or  subsequent  to  the  time  wheu  the  accused 
parties  served  under  the  orders  of  General  Cortina,  and  while 
that  person  was  a private  individual.  There  is  but  a single 
exception,  and  that  is  of  Captain  Sabas  Garcia,  who  is  accused 
of  having  crossed  from  Texas  into  Mexico  with  a herd  of  stolen 
cattle  at  the  end  of  1871  (1). 

The  Commission,  in  its  investigations,  have  acquired  proof 
that  Garcia  was  guilty  of  cattle  stealing  in  Texas,  but  they 
believe  that  there  is  no  ground  for  charging  him  with  the  com- 
mission  of  this  crime  during  the  time  that  he  was  in  service. 
In  order  to  make  an  estimate  of  the  aggregate  value  of  the 
proofs  in  support  of  the  complaints,  it  is  proper  to  make  some 
remarks. 

In  order  to  show  that  soldiers  of  the  Mexican  army  com- 
mitted robberies  in  Texas,  it  has  been  stated,  and  some  assert 
that  they  saw  it,  that,  in  March,  1872,  seventy  or  eighty 
armed  and  uniformed  Mexicans  had  five  or  six  hundred  head 
of  cattle  on  the  Mexican  side,  in  front  of  the  Florida  ranche, 
Texas  (2). 

The  incorrectness  of  this  is  shown  when  we  consider  that 
the  force  consisting  of  adventurers,  and  among  which  the  com- 
plainants in  Texas  have  sought  the  guilty,  because  only  thus 
would  the  complaint  made  by  them  be  plausible,  had  no  uni- 
forms. 

Jose  Maria  Martinez,  E.  Echazarreta,  and  F.  Milan,  or 
Millan,  are  accused  of  a robbery  committed  in  Texas  in  May 
of  1872,  and  it  has  been  asserted  that  they  were  then  in  the 
service  of  Mexico  under  General  Cortina’s  orders  (3).  Neither 
of  the  three  individuals  mentioned  have  served  on  the  frontier 
since  1870,  at  least,  and  with  regard  to  the  first  he  was  a 
captain  of  the  United  States  forces,  commissioned  to  confiscate 
cattle,  afterwards  a robber  and  a captain  of  robbers  in  Texas, 
from  whence  he  crossed  into  Mexico,  where  he  continued  com- 
mitting robberies  on  both  frontiei’s,  until  he  was  pursued  and 
killed  by  the  Mexican  military  commissioners. 

It  is  said  of  Pedro  Jurado,  Pedro  Lugo,  and  R.  Echazar- 
reta, supposing  them  to  be  Cortina’s  officers,  that  they  were  at 
the  Calabozo  ranch,  in  March,  1872,  on  a cattle  stealing  enter- 


V 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION.  ' 15T 

prise  (4).  The  truth  of  this  charge  with  regard  to  Pedro  Ju- 
rado  is  doubtful,  because  he  was  killed  on  the  fifth  of  that  same 
month  in  an  encounter  with  the  revolutionists.  AVith  regard 
to  Lugo  it  is  absolutely  impossible  that  what  is  stated  of  him 
can  be  true,  because  he  was  killed  on  the  2d  of  February  in  a 
fight  with  a force  which  overtook  his  band  of  robbers  at  the 
Alb  ere  as. 

Of  General  Cortina  it  is  stated  that,  in  August  of  1871,  he 
was  counter-branding  cattle  at  Santa  Fe  (5).  These  cattle  be- 
longed to  the  heirs  of  Pedro  Bouchard,  were  sold  to  General 
Cortina  by  Rafael  Garcia,  of  Texas,  and  received  by  him  at 
the  Laguna  of  Santa  Fe,  where  the  purchaser  branded  it  with 
his  own  brand. 

AVhile  acknowledging  the  integrity  of  Colonel  Arocha,  it 
was,  nevertheless,  said  of  him,  that,  during  his  residence  at 
Mier,  he  had  in  his  corrales  a hundred  head  of  Texan  cattle ; 
it  was  not  stated  that  these  wei’e  stolen,  but  it  was  so  intimated.. 
(6.)  These  cattle  belonged  to  George  Petit  Grew,  the  owner  of 
the  Arroyo  of  Alamo,  Texas,  and  who  resided  at  Corpus.  He 
imported  them  into  Mexico,  with  the  intention  of  carrying- 
them  into  Huevo  Leon.  This  was  during  a time  of  revolution, 
and  all  traffic  with  that  State  had  been  prohibited ; the  cattle 
were  seized  and  inclosed  by  General  Arocha,  at  Mier,  until 
General  Cortina  was  informed  of  the  fact,  when  he  directed  the 
release  of  the  cattle,  because  Petit  Grew  showed  that  the  au- 
thorities at  Guerrero  had  given  him  a permit.  Petit  Grew  sold 
these  same  cattle  in  Mier  to  Ramon  Guerra. 

A robbery  of  horses,  stolen  from  Albert  Champion  at  the 
Torrana,  Texas,  in  February  of  1871,  is  mentioned,  and  accus- 
ing Ildefonso  Salinas,  who  is  styled  a captain,  under  Cortina’s 
orders,  of  it.  Champion  states  a conversation  which  he  says 
that  he  had  with  General  Cortina,  in  which  Cortina  stated  that 
Salinas,  on  the  night  of  the  robbery,  was  in  camp,  and  added, 
“ Champion,  you  are  mad  with  Salinas  for  something.”  (7.) 
The  Commission,  without  assuming  to  defend  Salinas’s  credit, 
which  is  not  the  best,  and  without  defending  him  from  the 
charge  brought  against  him,  because  it  is  not  in  possession  of 
the  necessary  data  to  do  so,  nevertheless  thinks  that  the  state- 


158 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


ment  is  incorrect,  because  Salinas  was  not  a captain  in  General 
Cortina’s  forces  at  the  time  the  robbery  was  committed.  He 
enlisted  as  lieutenant  of  the  first  company  of  the  corps  “ Fieles 
de  Cortina”  on  the  first  of  October,  1871,  and  served  as  such 
until  the  30th  of  November  of  the  same  year.  He  again  en- 
listed on  the  31st  of  December,  1871,  as  captain  of  the  fourth 
company  of  “ Exploradores,”  and  was  discharged  on  the  21st 
of  May,  1872.  No  error  in  the  date  is  to  be  supposed,  because, 
the  Brownsville  papers  of  the  month  of  February,  1871,  speak 
of  the  robbery  of  Champion.  It  is  consequently  impossible 
that  General  Cortina  could  have  expressed  himself  in  the 
terms  attributed  to  him,  giving  Salinas  a position  which  he  did 
not  h*old,  and  calling  him  an  officer  in  his  force.  To  subsequent 
accusations  made  against  General  Cortina  by  the  Brownsville 
press  concerning  this  matter,  he  answered  by  a communication, 
stating  that  Albert  Champion  wrote  to  him  on  the  13th  of 
February,  1871,  informing  him  of  the  robbery,  and  requesting 
him  to  pursue  the  robbers ; that  he  did  so,  and  of  the  nine 
horses  which  were  stolen,  seven  were  found  on  tlie  lands  belong- 
ing to  the  hacienda  of  the  Yaqueria,  and  returned  to  Champion. 

In  August  of  1871,  a band  of  robbers  were  driving  a herd 
of  stolen  cattle  in  Texas.  While  crossing  it,  they  were  attacked 
on  the  United  States  side  of  the  river  and  fled,  after  having  suc- 
ceeded in  passing  eighteen  head  into  Mexico,  which  they  also 
abandoned.  On  the  following  day,  these  cattle  were  recovered 
by  Macario  Cruz,  the  justice  of  the  peace  at  Pedernal,  and 
placed,  at  the  disposal  of  tlie  authorities. 

In  alluding  to  this  fact  it  was  stated  that  more  than  a hun- 
dred head  of  cattle  were  recovered ; that  the  justice  of  the 
peace  in  his  flrst  notice  to  the  authorities  at  Matamoros,  did 
not  state  the  number ; that  shortly  after  General  Cortina  ar- 
rived, and  upon  being  informed  of  the  occurrence,  directed  the 
justice  to  make  a second  report  stating  the  number  of  cattle  to 
be  eighteen,  and  that  after  the  lean  ones  were  separated  from 
the  others,  the  remainder  were  sold  by  Cortina  to  his  agents. 

This  statement  is  a tissue  of  falsehoods.  The  Commission 
investigated  the  number  of  reports  made  by  the  justice  of  the 
peace,  and  there  was  but  one,  in  which  the  facts  and  the  num- 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


159 


ber  of  head  of  cattle  was  stated.  Upon  an  investigation  of  the 
facts,  it  was  ascertained  that  the  residents  of  that  part  of  the 
country,  on  account  of  the  drought,  liad  driven  more  than  a 
hundred  head  of  cattle  to  pasture  on  the  farm  of  Angel  Bena- 
vides ; that  the  attempt  was  made  to  drive  the  stolen  cattle 
through  this  same  farm,  and  some  of  the  stolen  cattle  had  re- 
mained there;  that  notice  of  this  was  given  to  the  justice  of 
the  peace,  and  he  took  up  all  the  cattle,  in  order  that  each 
party  might  point  out  that  which  belonged  to  him,  and  thus 
show  exactly  that  which  belonged  to  other  people ; that  eighteen 
had  remained  unclaimed,  and  of  these  he  made  report  to  the 
authorities  at  Matamoros  ; that  General  Cortina  was  not  there, 
and  probably  never  heard  of  the  occurrence. 

It  is  useless  to  pursue  further  this  series  of  remarks.  From 
the  ‘‘ espedientes  ” formed  by  the  Commission  various  others 
are  derived,  but  the  foregoing  are  sufficient  to  show  how  un- 
scrupulous were,  first  the  papers  of  Brownsville,  and  subse- 
quently the  persons  who  have  testified  under  oath  with  regard 
to  the  facts,  either  by  distorting  the  circumstances,  or  stating 
palpable  falsehoods.  The  Commission  cannot  but  fix  its  atten- 
tion on  the  grounds  upon  which  the  complainants  of  Texas  rest 
the  charges  brought  against  General  Cortina.  These  grounds 
consist  of  Apolinar  Hernandez  and  Gregorio  Villareal,  (1)  who 
served  under  the  command  of  General  Cortina.  Flernandez 
served  a month  and  a half  in  the  “ exploradores  ” corps,  and 
Villareal  about  four  in  the  “fieles.”  With  regard  to  this  per- 
son, the  testimony  produced  by  the  eomplainants  show,  that 
Villareal  was  to  some  extent  an  accomplice  in  the  cattle  steal- 
ing (2).  With  regards  to  the  first  named,  he  is  a fugitive  from 
Mexico,  by  reason  of  orders  issued  by  General  Cortina  to  pur- 
sue him  for  horse  stealing,  he  was  also  caught  “ infraganti  ” at 
the  Encenada,  by  Mexican  forces,  while  driving  stolen  horses 
toward  the  bank  of  the  river,  and  fled. 

The  Commission  by  its  own  experience  is  convinced,  that 
although  to  a certain  extent  the  testimony  of  parties  accom- 
plices in  the  robberies  is  admissible,  it  is  not  the  less  proper  to 
receive  it  with  suspicion.  It  is  impossible  to  believe  them  as 
though  they  were  honorable  people,  and  still  less  to  give  their 


160 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


statements  the  weight  of  an  unquestionable  truth,  upon  which 
to  condemn  the  authorities  of  another  country. 

The  Commission  has  remarked  that  the  parties  most  com- 
plicated in  the  robberies  have  been  the  most  extravagant  in 
their  charges  against  ]\Iexico.  Adolpho  Glaevecke,  who  had 
a band  of  robbers  on  his  ranche  for  the  purpose  of  stealing 
horses  from  Mexico,  and  who  subsequently  speculated  in  cattle 
stolen  in  Texas ; Thadeus  Rhodes,  who  was  the  accomplice 
and  insti2:ator  of  a band  of  robbers  who  were  for  a Ions:  time 
a terror  in  the  vicinity  of  Reynosa  ; William  D.  Thomas  (alias 
Red  Tom),  a horse  thief  in  Mexico,  and  a cattle  thief  in  Texas; 
Tomas  Yazquez,  of  the  same  stripe  ; Marcos  Sanchez,  Severia- 
no Hinojosa,  Justo  Ropez,  and  various  others  who  in  Texas 
acted  in  concert  with  a band  of  robbers  commanded  by  Jose 
Martinez  to  deliver  them  stolen  cattle,  and  Cecilio  Yela,  a 
criminal  and  fugitive  from  Mexico,  are  among  those  who  have 
shown  most  zeal  in  criminating  our  frontier. 

The  base  of  the  proofs  in  questions  such  as  the  present  is 
to  be  found  in  the  criminal  statistics.  An  examination  of  the 
archives  of  the  courts  of  Texas  show  the  great  number  of 
parties  who  have  participated  in  cattle  stealing.  Although  the 
delinquents  may  succeed  in  evading  the  law ; although  they 
may  be  acquitted,  criminal  cases  always  leave  their  traces  after 
them,  and  they  must  always  be  the  principal  source  of  infor- 
mation in  questions  of  this  nature.  Crime  has  its  ramifications, 
and  especially  cattle  stealing,  which  to  a certain  extent  can 
only  be  carried  on  by  bands.  Those  who  to-day  gather  to- 
gether for  the  purpose  of  committing  a robbery,  separate  the 
following  day,  to  again  connect  themselves  with  others,  and  in 
this  manner,  at  the  end  of  a certain  length  of  time,  the  traces 
of  their  crimes  are  found  among  a multitude  of  criminals. 
When  the  law  overtakes  a criminal,  the  investigation  of  his 
crime  is  the  examination  of  facts  in  which  other  parties  are 
complicated.  They  may  not  be  imprisoned,  no  sentence  may 
be  pronounced  against  them,  but  on  the  records  of  the  court  is 
registered  a record  of  their  deeds.  If  Mexican  soldiers  had 
been  guilty  of  depredations  in  Texas,  if  these  depredations 
had  been  of  a systematic  character,  extending  over  a number 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


161 


of  years,  there  cannot  fail  to  be  data  establishing  this  fact  in 
the  criminal  cases  in  Texas.  There  is  where  the  grounds  of 
accusation  against  the  armed  force  of  Mexico  should  be  looked 
for.  General  Cortina’s  conduct  on  the  frontier  presents  itself 
to  the  Commission  stripped  of  the  character  with  which  it  has 
been  sought  to  clothe  it.  Far  from  this,  when  his  military 
duties  permitted  liim,  during  the  agitated  period  that  he  re- 
mained on  the  banks  of  tlie  Bravo,  he  pursued  and  punished 
criminals.  His  enemies  acknowledged  this  before  General 
Cortina  applied  for  pardon,  or  his  petition  was  made  public. 
One  of  the  Brownsville  papers  {The  Sentinel^  January  27th, 
1871),  recognized  General  Cortina’s  disposition  to  aid  in  sup- 
pressing robbery.  A conversation  is  mentioned,  held  with  him 
upon  this  subject,  in  which  the  General  suggested  various  ideas, 
expressing  the  necessity  which  existed  for  the  co-operation  of 
the  authorities  of  Texas.  So  persuaded  was  this  paper  of  the 
loyalty  of  General  Cortina’s  intentions,  tliat  its  article  con- 
cluded by  saying : 

“ A better  opportunity  perhaps  may  not  present  itself 
again  in  many  years  to  free  this  frontier  from  the  criminals 
who  have  been  following  their  raids  on  society,  devastating  and 
even  murdering.  Not  to  take  advantage  of  the  circumstance 
is  to  neglect  the  interests  and  happiness  of  the  residents  of  this 
valley.” 

When  this  was  written,  General  Cortina  had  been  several 
months  on  the  frontier. 

There  was  ground  enough  for  this  confidence.  The  same 
paper  furnished  the  notice  that  on  the  Texas  bank,  there  was  a 
meeting  of  robbers  for  the  purpose  of  crossing  into  Mexico  and 
cutting  down  a criminal  who  had  been  hung  by  General 
Cortina. 

But  all  this  changed  with  the  question  of  the  pardon.  His 
present  faults  Avere  not  in  fact  the  cause  which  gave  rise  to  the 
change,  but  the  personal  hatreds  growing  out  of  his  revolt  in 
1859,  and  the  political  ones,  which  originated  from  his  partici- 
pation in  1861  against  the  Texans  at  Brownsville.  Neverthe- 
less, now  and  then  some  of  the  most  excited  yielded  to  the 
11 


162 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


evidence  of  truth,  and  their  acknowledgments  are  General 
Cortina’s  acquittal. 

At  the  beginning  of  1872,  a police  force  "was  organized  un- 
der General  Cortina’s  direction  for  the  pursuit  of  robbers. 
The  organization  was  formed  by  voluntary  contributions  made 
by  the  land  owners,  and  he  was  one  of  those  contributors. 
The  first  act  of  this  force  was  the  rout  of  the  Lugos’  band, 
which  accompanied  Sanchos  Uresti.  Here  is  what  a Browns- 
ville paper  said  upon  the  subject ; 

“ The  recent  fight  between  Captain  Amador  and  Colonel 
Uresti,  has  given  us  much  food  for  reflection.  We  find  among 
the  names  of  the  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners,  those  of  well 
known  cattle  thieves,  for  example,  the  Lugos,  who  certainly 
did  not  belong  to  Cortina’s  forces.  This  person  may  perhaps 
have  been  made  the  scapegoat  for  the  sins  of  others.” — Daily 
Ranchero,  Brownsville,  February  7th,  1872. 

A newspaper  stated  this,  which  nevertheless  before  bad 
constantly  made  use  of  the  name  of  the  Lugos  to  I’eproach 
General  Cortina.  All  the  charges,  more  or  less,  were  about  as 
follows:  “Pedro  Lugos  and  other  captains  of  cattle  stealing 
bands,  report  to  Cortina  and  receive  orders  from  him.” 

The  most  singular  is,  that  months  after,  when  the  com- 
plaints were  brought  against  Mexico,  the  Lugos  were  again 
spoken  of  as  General  Cortina’s  accomplices,  and  still  more  sin- 
gular is  it,  that  Pedro  Lugo,  who  was  killed  on  the  2d  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1872,  was  declared  to  be  alive  in  the  March  following, 
and  one  of  Cortina’s  officers  ; it  was  asserted  that  in  this  month 
he  was  engaged  in  a robbery  (1). 

It  is  comprehensible  how  there  might  have  been  an  error 
of  date,  but  in  this  case,  to  the  anachronism  is  added  the  want 
of  correctness  in  the  facts,  and  such  want  is  inexcusable, 
because  events  of  public  notoriety  and  within  the  knowl- 
edge of  all,  show  the  contrary.  The  Commission,  although 
holding  this  opinion,  believe  that  the  occurrences  with  which 
General  Cortina  has  been  mixed  up  on  the  frontier  since 
1859,  show  the  propriety  of  his  not  holding  any  public  office 
whatever  there.  The  events  of  1863  and  1864,  relating  to  in- 
terior politics,  must  also  cause  him  to  be  always  viewed  as  a 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


163 


cause  of  alarm,  and  although  this  may  be  unfounded,  the  want 
of  tranquility  will  always  prevail  in  the  minds  of  men  with 
regard  to  our  interior  peace. 

His  presence  on  the  line  of  the  Bravo  in  an  official  capacity 
will  thus  always  be  a difficulty  for  the  interior,  and  the  cause 
of  complications  between  both  frontiers.  Some  parties  will 
zealously  spread  the  most  absurd  rumors,  and  the  more  absurd 
they  are  the  more  readily  will  they  be  credited  by  the  timid, 
on  account  of  their  predisposition  to  believe  them.  If  these 
rumors  are  examined,  their  groundlessness  will  be  apparent ; 
yet  they  are  brought  forth  with  such  remarkable  tenacity 
that  the  time  may  come  when  the  impartial  will  believe,  or  at 
least  doubt.  This  course  of  conduct,  which,  with  regard  to 
another  individual,  would  be  treated  with  contempt,  plays 
upon  feelings  created  by  previous  occurrences,  with  which  all 
are  prejudiced  and  ready  to  believe  without  discussion.  The 
person,  then,  against  whom  these  feelings  are  entertained,  is  a 
constant  menace,  and  after  the  lapse  of  a certain  length  of  time 
so  great  would  be  the  prejudice  engendered  that  no  human 
power  could  destroy  it.  This  is  what  has  occurred  with  re- 
gard to  General  Cortina,  and  both  the  requirements  of  our 
interior  policy  and  our  foreign  policy  on  the  frontier  require 
that  he  should  hold  no  public  office  in  that  part  of  the 
country. 

The  Commission  also  deem  it  indispensable  to  fix  its 
attention  upon  the  organization  of  irregular  troops  on  the 
frontier,  such  as  those  raised  at  the  end  ofT871. 

Hot  only  the  experience  of  our  own  frontier,  but  also  that 
of  Texas,  confirms  the  inexpediency  of  this  kind  of  forces. 
Further  on,  the  Commission  will  refer  to  the  serious  disorders 
committed  by  the  irregular  forces  of  the  United  States,  or  by 
Texas  volunteers  (rangers).  These  occurrences,  and  the  diffi- 
culties to  which  the  troops  before  mentioned  gave  rise  on  our 
frontier,  show  conclusively  the  necessity  that  none  but  fully 
disciplined  forces  should  ever  be  used  on  either  side  of  the 
frontier. 


164: 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


XY. 


Tlie  Commission  has  jjrevioiisly  shown  that,  at  the  com- 
mencement, the  accusations  made  against  General  Cortina 
were  a personal  intrigue,  and  that  they  were  subsequently 
continued  for  the  purpose  of  strengthening  the  vague  accusa- 
tions which  up  to  that  time  were  directed  against  our  au- 
thorities. For  several  months  facts  were  invented,  or  those 
which  really  occurred  were  distorted,  and  when  it  was  deemed 
that  the  public  mind  had  been  sufficiently  prepared,  it  was  pro- 
claimed that  it  was  necessary  to  exact  from  Mexico  “ compen- 
sation for  the  past  and  guaranties  for  the  future.^"'  The  first 
part  of  this  motto  is  synonymous  with  claims  against  the  re- 
public ; the  latter  part,  to  a war  of  conquest  on  the  part  of  the 
United  States  against  Mexico.  From  the  moment  that  this 
vast  horizon  was  perceptible,  complaints  increased  in  their  in- 
tensity ; they  were  bitter,  and  accompanied  by  all  that  interest 
or  passion  could  add  to  them.  The  Commission  also  considei’s 
it  as  its  duty  to  examine  the  value  of  that  motto  in  connec- 
tion with  the  facts  proven,  and  for  this  purpose  will  express  its 
opinion  with  regard  to  the  complaints  and  the  complainants. 

The  property  of  several  of  these  is  found  in  Bee,  Refugio, 
Goliad,  and  San  Patricio  counties,  which  are  sitiiated  on  the 
other  side  of  the  Xueces  river.  They  state  that  on  account  of 
the  ‘‘Xorthers  ” their  cattle  wandered  to  the  South,  where  the 
robberies  are  committed,  and  that  then  they  suftered  losses. 
By  the  investigation  made  by  the  Commission  it  is  ascertained 
that  this  is  impossible.  Cattle  which  pasture  on  the  other  side 
of  the  Xueces,  never  cross  this  river  either  by  reason  of  the 
Xorthers  or  the  storms  vulgarly  called  “ snow-rains.”  The 
shelter  which  on  these  occasions  the  cattle  seek,  is  found  in  a 
strip  of  woods  running  along  the  whole  length  of  the  Xueces 
river;  this,  moreover,  is  marshy,  and  its  fords  well  determined. 
Even  to  bring  cattle  there,  hard  driving  is  necessary,  because 
they  will  not  come  voluntarily.  That  the  cattle  do  not  cross 
to  the  south  of  the  Xueces  is  proved  by  the  fact  that  the 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


165 


herders  of  the  Korth,  in  general,  do  not  cross  that  part  of  the 
country  for  the  purpose  of  herding  there,  which  they  would 
not  fail  to  do  in  a contrary  case. 

It  is  imposible  for  the  cattle  stealing  done  on  the  margin 
of  the  Rio  Grande  to  reach  those  counties,  nor  can  it  reach 
the  Nueces,  as  they  try  to  maintain.  When  a robbery  is 
contemplated,  the  easiest  mode  is  preferred,  and  it  is  not 
necessary  to  go  a distance  from  the  banks  of  the  Bravo 
to  steal  cattle ; herds  enough  are  to  be  found  within  twenty 
leagues  of  its  margin.  The  greater  the  distance  to  be  trav- 
eled, the  greater  are  the  dangers ; and  hence  it  is  not  pre- 
sumable that  the  cattle  stealer  would  unnecessarily  expose 
himself  to  these,  when  with  a great  deal  less  risk  he  might 
carry  out  his  intentions.  One  of  the  complainants  is  Henry 
Scott,  a resident  of  Refugio  county,  commonly  called,  on 
the  banks  of  the  Bravo  river,  Iliginio  Scott.  On  the  thirty- 
first  of  May,  1853,  the  Court  of  First  Instance,  at  Matamoros, 
tried  Eugenio  Leal,  Felipe  Rodriguez,  and  Susano  Cisneros  : 
the  first  a runaway  servant,  and  the  two  last  residents  of 
Nacogdoches  and  Corpus  Christi,  for  the  robbery  of  four 
horses.  From  the  evidence  in  the  case  it  appeared  that  there 
was  an  American  at  Brownsville,  named  H.  Scott,  who  pur- 
chased stolen  animals,  and  sent  somebody  here  to  receive  them 
and  cross  them.  Rodriguez  did  this  on  that  occasion,  and  he 
and  his  accomplices  confessed  that  they  supported  themselves 
by  this  trafiic. 

In  order  to  judge  what  each  one  of  the  land  owners  between 
the  Bravo  and  the  Nueces  may  really  have  lost,  one  of  the 
points  for  making  the  calculation  is  the  statements  made  by 
them  for  the  payment  of  their  taxes.  If  any  of  them  have  not 
paid  their  taxes,  this  implies  either  that  they  have  cheated  the 
State,  or  committed  perjury  by  complaining  of  the  loss  of 
property  which  they  never  owned,  which  is  most  probable. 
If  some,  in  later  years,  have  paid  taxes  upon  an  equal  or  a 
greater  number  than  they  did  during  the  previous  ones,  it  is 
beyond  doubt  that  they  experienced  no  losses ; or  if  they  did, 
they  were  so  trilling  as  not  to  have  affected  the  bulk  of  their 
property.  If  a year  later  they  paid  taxes  upon  an  amount  less 


166 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


than  they  did  tlie  year  before,  it  would  be  necessary  yet  to  as- 
certain that  there  was  no  fraud  in  this  proceeding,  that  the 
cattle  had  really  diminished  in  numbers,  and  that  the  origin  of 
the  difference  was  not  the  drought  or  the  stealing  among  the 
cattle  owners  themselves,  but  that  owing  to  Mexican  robbers. 

The  fiscal  statistics  of  Texas  must  necessarily  be  an  in- 
dispensable aid  in  this  aspect  of  the  question,  in  order  to  esti- 
mate the  correctness  of  the  complaints ; and  when  the  depart- 
ments furnish  the  best  proofs,  the  statements  of  witnesses 
become  unimportant,  especially  if  they  contradict  each  other 
in  their  evidence.  The  Commission  regrets  that,  at  the  time 
of  making  up  this  report,  it  had  not  received  the  various  and 
numerous  reports  which  it  solicited,  concerning  the  cattle  and 
cattle  owners  in  Texas  generally,  since  1860,  and  with  regard 
to  each  one  of  the  complainants  individually,  since  the  year  in 
which  they  state  they  commenced  experiencing  losses;  this 
information  is  one  of  the  means  to  form  a history  of  the 
fortune  which  they  possess  in  cattle.  The  Commission  thus 
confines  itself  to  estimates,  not  very  precise,  but  which  show 
what  there  really  is  of  truth  in  the  complaints.  ‘ The  people 
of  Texas,  in  order  to  create  an  impression  with  regard  to  their 
losses,  set  forth  that  the  cattle  in  the  region  between  the  Bravo 
and  the  Nueces,  had  diminished  from  one-third  to  one-fourth, 
between  the  years  1S66  and  the  middle  of  1872  (1).  The  Com- 
mission previously  examined  this  statement  with  regard  to  the 
State  of  Texas,  and  without  maintaining  that  there  was  or  not 
such  a diminution,  and  still  less  determining  the  amount  of  the 
depreciation,  it  confined  itself  to  showing  that  in  the  event  of 
its  having  been  so,  reasons  for  it  were  not  wanting,  and  further 
postponed  until  now  the  examination  of  this  same  question  in 
its  special  connection  with  the  complainants.  Taking  Cameron 
and  Nueces  counties  as  an  example,  where  the  complaints  have 
been  greatest,  by  reason  of  the  number  of  persons  and  the 
amounts,  the  fiscal  statistics  for  the  payment  of  taxes  published 
in  the  Texas  Almanac  for  the  years  1869,  1870  and  1872,  fur- 
nish the  following  result: 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


16T 


Cameron 

Starr 

1 

jyt  o* 

*01  To 

o>  Ct 

CO  CO 

Horses. 

CO 

Oi 

-a 

§ ® 

_co  ci 

“o 

hO 

Value. 

2T,179 

188,683 

Cattle. 

$142,218 

679,177 

Value. 

JO  ^ 
i : ■»-» 

1 1 -4  CO 
• I O CO 

Horses. 

1809. 

$76,749 

203,584 

Value. 

82,709 

158,208 

Cattle. 

$149,867 

667,249 

Value. 

to 

Oi  00 

To 

CO  CD 

CO 

Horses. 

1870. 

$97,718 

804,177 

1 

Value. 

CD  CT 

CO  00 

o To 
a CO 

00  CO 

Cattle. 

CT  ^ 

Oi 

To  T-* 

to  CO 

CO 

Value. 

The  foregoing  statement  proves  that  in  these  counties, 
far  from  a loss  of  two-thirds  being  announced,  from  1867  to 
1870,  on  the  contrary,  cattle  and  horses  had  been  on  the  in- 
crease. The  fiscal  statistics  should  also  furnish  some  indication 
of  this  diminution,  in  case  there  was  any,  either  on  account  of 
the  fact  that  the  heavy  robberies  are  dated  as  commencing  in 
1866,  or  because  the  commencement  of  the  depreciation  of  the 
cattle  is  assigned  to  that  year.  This  further  corroborates 
that  the  losses  must  have  been  really  of  very  little  importance, 
since  they  exerted  no  influence  upon  the  fiscal  statistics  for  the 


168 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


payment  of  taxes.  In  these  counties,  cattle  have  been  sold,  ex- 
ported, shipped  to  Kansas,  consumed,  stolen,  and  destroyed  for 
their  hides,  and  nevertheless,  cattle  upon  which  taxes  were 
paid  were  on  the  increase  up  to  1870. 

In  order  to  estimate  the  complaints  at  their  just  value,  the 
Commission  submit  a statement  of  the  total,  which  a very  small 
number  of  persons,  residing  in  Cameron  and  Kueces  counties, 
allege  they  lost  by  robberies  committed  by  bands  of  armed 
Mexicans : 


Xo.  2. 


Cameron. 
Nueces  . . 


O O 
® to 
t-  TJ  g 

•C  bo  ^ 

C 4/  ^ 


CATTLE. 


143, TT6 
82S,643 


$I,43V,T66 

3,286,430 


82,742 

680,397 


$824,720 

6,803,970 


> c 
o cd  Cl 

S-c-3 


a S’' 
z 


6,712 

7,008 


HORSES. 


$179,640 

348,605 


1,425 

10,108 


$45,750 

484,540 


A comparison  of  both  these  statements  show  that  twenty 
owners  in  Cameron  county  complain  of  losses  of  cattle  equal  to 
five  times  the  total  number  upon  which  taxes  were  paid  in  all 
the  county  for  the  year  1867  ; to  more  than  four  times  the  num- 
ber on  which  taxes  were  paid  in  1868,  and  nearly  four  times 
that  of  1 870.  In  Xueces  county,  thirty-three  persons  state  that 
they  have  experienced  losses  amounting  to  double,  on  the  aver- 
age, of  the  number  of  cattle  upon  which  taxes  were  paid  in  the 
county  during  the  same  years.  lYith  regard  to  horses,  the  in- 
correctness and  exaggeration  is  noticeable,  although  not  to  so 
great  an  extent.  Taking  into  consideration  all  the  complaints 
for  cattle  stolen  of  which  the  Commission  is  informed,  it  is 
found  that  eighty-two  persons  show  a loss  of  more  than  twenty- 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


169 


five  millions,  that  is,  three-fourths  of  the  total  value  of  all  the 
horses  and  cattle  in  Texas  in  1870, 

In  view  of  the  unanswerable  objections  which  the  statistics 
would  show,  not  with  regard  to  the  indirect  losses,  but  the 
direct  losses,  it  has  been  attempted  to  explain,  that  inasmuch 
as  the  pastures  are  open  the  herds  spread  themselves  over  a 
vast  extent  of  country,  and  that  the  true  total  is  greater  than 
the  number  designated  for  the  payment  of  taxes  ; that  as  this 
does  not  occur  with  regard  to  the  horses,  because  they  are  more 
careful,  a more  exact  statement  of  their  number  can  be  given.* 
Such  observations  with  regard  to  the  cattle  is  equivalent  to 
the  owners  saying  that  they  do  not  exactly  know  the  amount 
of  their  property  for  the  payment  of  taxes,  and  state  it  approx- 
imately ; but  if  this  is  so,  their  want  of  knowledge  with  regard 
to  their  property  should  be  an  obstacle  to  their  designating 
their  losses.  N’evertheless,  some  have  done  it  with  such  pre- 
cision that  they  have  not  overlooked  the  most  trifling  frac- 
tion. For  example,  Kichard  King  & Co.  make  their  direct 
losses  between  1866  and  1869  amount  to  one  hundred  and 
eight  thousand  three  hundred  and  thirty-six  head  ; Henderson 
Williams  to  four  thousand  four  hundred  and  thirty-six  ; Dimas 
Tores  Yelasquez  to  seven  thousand  eight  hundred  and  ninety- 
three.  Now,  neither  of  these  three  parties  have  forgotten  the 
trifling  fraction  of  six,  five  and  three,  which  shows  that  they 
have  a most  exact  knowledge  of  their  property.  With  regard 
to  horses,  the  remark  states  that  it  does  not  apply  to  them,  yet 
eighteen  breeders  of  Hueces  county,  and  eleven  in  Cameron, 
state  that  they  lost  a number  which,  compared  with  the  total 
number  in  these  counties,  would  have  produced  the  annihila- 
tion of  the  breed  of  horses ; nevertheless,  the  statistics  show 
that  there  was  a considerable  increase  in  this  line.  * 


* After  having  extended  this  report,  the  Vice  Consul  at  San  Antonio  furnished 
the  statistical  reports  taken  from  the  archives  at  Austin  with  regard  to  the  property 
existing  in  the  counties  between  the  Bravo  and  Nueces.  These  reports  com- 
mence with  the  year  1860,  those  relevant  begin  with  1866.  These  counties  are 
Cameron,  Hidalgo,  Starr,  Webb,  La  Salle,  Eucinal,  Duval,  Zapata,  Live  Oak,  Me- 


170 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


Apart  from  these  general  considerations,  Avhich  suggest  the 
strongest  doubts  against  the  claims  made,  there  are  certain  mo- 


Mullen,  and  Nueces,  and  it  is  asserted  that  these  are  the  ones  which  have  suf- 
fered most  from  the  depredations  committed  by  bands  of  robbers  organized  in 
Mexico,  being  the  counties  most  adjacent  to  the  river  bank. 

The  last  report  shows  that  the  number  of  cattle  in  the  eleven  counties  referred 
to,  so  far  from  having  diminished  a third  or  a fourth  part  in  1872  compared  with 
what  it  was  in  1856,  as  the  complainants  in  Texas  assert,  had,  on  the  contrary, 
doubled  (Report  of  the  United  States  Commissioners  to  Texas,  page  6,  at  the 
close). 

It  is  also  shown  that  the  business  of  stock  raising  has  been  in  these  same 
corinties  on  the  increase  up  to  1871.  The  body  of  the  report  contains  an  explana- 
tion of  the  probable  causes  which  gave  rise  to  the  decrease  in  the  year  referred 
to,  so  much  so  that  the  tax  lists  for  1872  showed  a falling  off  in  the  amount.  The 
stealing  on  the  banks  of  the  Rio  Grande  could  not  have  been  one  of  such  causes, 
because  in  assigning  this  cause  a commencement  long  prior,  it  would  have  caused 
the  diminution  of  the  cattle  in  years  previous  to  1871,  if  stealing  had  been  the 
cause  of  such  diminution  in  the  number  of  the  cattle  in  the  last  of  the  years  re- 
ferred to.  The  great  exportation  of  cattle  and  hides  and  the  drought,  explain 
the  reasons  why  cattle  began  to  diminish  in  1871. 

In  the  complaints  submitted  for  depredations  committed  in  Texas  against 
Mexico  up  to  the  end  of  1872  (Report  of  United  States  Commissioners,  page  43), 
there  appear  only  sixty-five  owners  from  the  eleven  counties  lying  between  the 
Bravo  and  the  Nueces.  These  sixty -five  persons  state  that  they  lost  five  hun- 
dred and  nineteen  thousand  five  hundred  and  four  head,  which,  at  the  rate  of  ten 
dollars  per  head,  amounts  to  more  than  five  millions  of  dollars  for  direct  damages. 
They  further  state,  that  they  lost  nine  hundred  and  fifty  one  thousand  four  hun- 
dred and  twenty-nine  head  (951,429)  as  consequential  damage,  or  nine  and  a half 
millions  of  dollars. 

Rejecting  this  latter  species  of  damage,  and  considering  simply  the  direct 
damage,  and  comparing  this  with  the  statistical  information  as  to  the  number  of 
owners,  the  total  number  of  cattle,  and  the  total  amount  of  property  in  these 
eleven  counties,  the  following  conclusions  are  arrived  at : 

In  the  year  1872  there  were  (2,367)  two  thousand  three  hundred  and  sixty- 
seven  cattle  owners  in  these  eleven  counties,  and  they  owned  among  the  whole  of 
them  a total  of  (368,352)  three  hundred  and  sixty-eight  thousand  three  hundred 
and  fifty-two  head  of  cattle.  Now,  then,  (65)  sixty-five  of  these  cattle  owners 
assert  that  they  have  been  robbed  of  a number  of  cattle  vastly  in  excess  of  all 
that  was  owned  by  the  (2,637)  two  thousand  six  hundred  and  thirty-seven  owners, 
including,  among  these,  the  claimants  themselves. 

The  value  of  the  cattle  in  these  same  counties,  in  1872,  was  (.$1,361,217)  one 
million  three  hundred  and  sixty-one  thousand  two  hundred  and  seventeen  dollars, 
distributed  among  the  2,637  owners  referred  to.  Nevertheless,  sixty-five  of  these 
assert  that  bands  of  Mexicans  have  robbed  them  alone  to  the  amount  of  more 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


171 


lives  peculiar  to  the  Texans,  motives  partially  connected  with 
their  interests  and,  to  a certain  extent,  to  their  character.  A 


than  ($6,000,000)  five  millions,  that  is  to  say,  more  than  three  times  the  value  of 
all  the  cattle  existing  in  that  locality. 

The  total  amount  of  property  in  these  same  counties,  in  the  year  1872, 
amounted  to  a little  more  than  six  millions  of  doUars  ($6,000,000). 

This  amount  belonged  to  a multitude  of  persons,  both  merchants  and  the 
owners  of  real  estate,  and  yet,  (66)  sixty-five  persons  composing  part  of  this  num- 
ber, assert  that  they  lost  five-sixths  of  the  total  value  of  all  the  property  existing 
between  the  Bravo  and  the  Nueces  ! 

This  comparative  examination  may  be  extended  to  each  one  of  the  years  from 
1866  up  to  1872.  It  may  also  be  made  by  comparing  with  each  other  the  statis- 
tics of  all  the  years,  to  estimate  the  change  between  one  year  and  another  in  the 
number  of  the  owners,  the  number  of  cattle,  and  the  value  of  the  property;  but 
in  whatever  light  it  be  examined,  it  is  incomprehensible  how  sixty-five  persons 
could  have  been  robbed  of  a number  of  cattle  greater  than  the  total  belonging  to 
all  the  owners,  in  each  of  the  years  from  1866,  including  the  complainants  them- 
selves. If  the  consequential  damages  are  taken  into  consideration,  the  amount  of 
the  losses  is  nearly  ($16,000,000)  fifteen  millions  of  dollars;  now,  if  this  loss  is 
estimated  only  with  regard  to  sixty-five  owners,  the  loss  by  (2,367)  two  thousand 
three  hundred  and  sixty-seven  cattle  owners  in  these  counties  becomes  almost 
incalculable.  It  being,  then,  also  incomprehensible  how  the  loss  by  cattle  steal- 
ing could  reach  this  amount,  inasmuch  as,  according  to  the  statistics,  the  total 
value  of  the  cattle  existing  in  the  counties  before  referred  to  is  less  than  a million 
and  a half  of  dollars ; the  absurdity  of  the  complaints  made  against  the  Mexican 
frontier  become  palpably  apparent. 

The  aggregated  statistical  reports  showing  that  from  year  to  year  there  has 
been  a visible  increase  in  stock  raising,  show  the  correctness  of  the  views  of  the 
Commission  founded  upon  information  of  other  kinds,  and  which  are  stated  in 
the  body  of  this  report,  as  to  the  unimportance  of  the  cattle  stealing  into  Mexico. 

(1)  Among  the  documents  received  by  the  Commission  after  the  extending  of 
this  report,  are  found  statements  of  the  number  of  horses  and  cattle  owned  by 
each  one  of  the  complainants,  and  the  value  of  this  property  according  to  the 
lists  made  out  for  the  collection  of  taxes  in  Texas,  during  each  of  the  years  from 
the  time  they  state  they  commenced  experiencing  losses.  This  document  is  at- 
tested by  the  respective  comptroller,  and  throws  a great  deal  of  light  upon  the 
claims  made. 

Antonio  J.  Iznaga  alleges  that  he  lost,  from  1869  to  1872,  (10,913)  ten  thousand 
nine  hundred  and  thirteen  heads  (Report  of  the  United  States  Commissioners, 
page  46,  No.'  16). 

According  to  the  list,  in  1859  Iznaga  paid  taxes  on  (147)  one  hundred  and 
forty-seven  heads  ; in  the  subsequent  years  up  to  1867,  at  times,  he  paid  on  (250) 
two  hundred  and  fifty  heads,  and  at  others  on  (300)  three  hundred ; during  the 
following  years  up  to  1872  it  was  constantly  augmenting,  and  in  this  latter  he 
paid  taxes  on  (1,216)  one  thousand  two  hundred  and  sixteen  heads.  It  is  incom- 


72 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


study  as  to  the  history  of  their  fortune  would  show  whether 
they  have  ex])erienced  losses,  the  extent  and  cause  of  these. 

prehensible  how  so  large  a number  could  have  been  lost  by  a person  who  always 
bad  so  small  an  amount  of  property  in  cattle.  There  are  many  others  in  the 
same  predicament,  such  as  Adolpho  Glaevecke,  Cornelius  Stillman,  Dimas  Torres, 
Henry  Scott,  and  Luis  Renaud,  the  latter  of  which  claims  for  the  loss  of  (8,334) 
eight  thousand  three  hundred  and  thirty -four  heads  from  1856,  when  it  appears 
that  in  1857  for  the  first  time  he  commenced  paying  taxes  on  eighty  heads,  and 
in  the  years  subsequent  up  to  1872  his  statements  show  from  (260)  two  hundred 
and  fifty  to  (300)  three  hundred  heads. 

It  is  useless  to  enumerate  the  parties  who  have  presented  claims  for  robberies 
which  they  attribute  to  bands  of  Mexicans,  and  in  whose  statements  for  the  pay- 
ment of  taxes  there  is  found  the  most  palpable  proof  of  their  unworthy  inten- 
tions ; there  are  some,  such  as  George  Krausse,  who  states  that  he  lost  cattle  in 
1854,  in  which  year,  nor  in  any  of  the  subsequent  ones,  does  it  appear  that  he 
ever  had  any  such  cattle ; but  the  most  remarkable  cases  in  the  series  of  claims 
are  those  of  the  three  brothers  Champion,  who  make  their  losses  amount  to  nearly 
a million  of  dollars. 

Albert  Cbampion  for  the  first  time  had  cattle  in  1867  to  the  number  of  (140) 
one  hundred  and  forty  head,  which  number  was  increased  by  successive  pur- 
chases to  (700)  seven  hundred  in  1869.  During  the  subsequent  years  he  paid 
taxes  on  a much  less  number,  so  much  so  that  in  1866  he  only  paid  on  (25) 
twenty-five  head,  and  the  number  after  this  date,  although  increasing,  did  not 
exceed  (100)  one  hundred  in  1872.  The  same  remarks  apply  with  regard  to  the 
other  two  brothers,  each  of  whom  at  most  have  stated  (300)  three  hundred  head, 
while  in  some  of  the  years  the  statements  did  not  reach  (100)  one  hundred  head, 
and  in  others  not  (50)  fifty.  A loss  of  more  than  ($900,000)  nine  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars  is  scarcely  compatible  with  such  limited  means. 

The  examination  of  all  the  documents  with  regard  to  the  means  of  the  Texan 
claimants,  show  the  degree  of  importance  which  should  be  attached  to  the  com- 
plaints made  against  the  Mexican  frontier,  the  meaning  of  these  complaints,  and 
the  purposes  which  they  had  in  view  when  they  made  them.  They  also  corrob- 
orate the  views  of  the  Commission  with  regard  to  the  value  of  the  cattle  stolen 
and  carried  to  the  Mexican  frontier.  Finally,  they  show  that  if  since  1871  the  num- 
ber of  cattle  has  diminished  between  the  Bravo  and  the  Nueces,  either  from  natural 
causes  or  by  reason  of  the  robbery,  a great  number  of  the  claimants  have  rapidly 
recuperated  their  losses,  and  in  view  of  the  customs  in  Texas,  as  a general  thing 
the  losses  have  not  been  recuperated  by  the  purchase  of  cattle  from  their  owners. 

OWNERS. 


In  1866 1,202 

1867  1,373 

1868  1,446 

1869  1,298 

1870  1,506 

1871  2,303 

1872  2,367 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


173 


The  examination  of  their  personal  characteristics  would  show 
whether  they  have  good  grounds  for  regretting  the  existing 
disorganization.  With  regard  to  the  former,  the  Commission 
is  only  in  possession  of  vague  indications,  because  the  point  of 
departure  is  to  be  found  in  the  statistics  (1).  With  respect  to 
the  latter,  charges  have  been  brought  against  several  of  the 
complainants,  from  which  it  appears  that  some  of  them  have 
contributed  directly  and  indirectly  to  the  demoralization. 
Francisco  Iturria,  a Mexican  by  birth,  became  naturalized  and 
resided  in  the  United  States  ; while  such,  and  living  at  Browns- 
ville, he  took  a most  active  part  in  the  civil  war  at  Tamaulipas 
at  the  end  of  1861.  The  party  to  which  he  belonged  triumphed 
in  Matamoros,  and  the  compensation  received  for  his  services 
was  the  commencement  of  his  fortune.  When  the  frontier  was 
occupied  by  the  forces  of  the  empire  he  joined  them.  When 
Matamoros  was  besieged,  in  October  of  1865,  by  General 


The  total  value  of  the  real  and  personal  property  in  the  same  counties,  and 
during  the  same  years,  was — 


In  1866. 
IBS'? 
1868. 

1869. 

1870. 

1871 

1872 


84,022,725 

5,394,400 

6,249,772 

4,342,287 

5,746,517 

6,913,702 

6,171,814 


The  total  value  of  the  cattle,  and  the  number  of  the  same,  in  these  same 
counties,  and  during  the  same  years,  was ; 


Years. 

Nomber  of  Cattle. 

V ALUK. 

1866 

192,497 

8977,105 

1867 

327,264 

1,493,161 

1868 

1869,  except  Live  Oak  county, 
which  is  not  included  in  the 

372,448 

1,464,002 

aggregate  of  this  year 

227,843 

880,418 

1870 

415,105 

1,442,815 

1871 

467,109 

1,872,869 

1872 

368,352 

1,361,217 

174 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


Escobedo,  Iturria  was  so  closely  allied  with  the  empire  that 
he  was  appointed  commander  of  the  inner  or  second  line. 
While  in  this  position  he  maltreated  several  citizens  who  re- 
fused to  take  up  arms  against  the  republic.  Mejia,  the 
Imperialists’  general,  prohibited  the  transit  of  people  and 
goods  from  one  side  to  the  other  except  under  special  permit. 
Such  permits  with  regard  to  goods  wei-e  granted  by  Iturria,  or 
through  his  influence,  with  which  a monopoly  was  established 
in  his  favor.  But  apart  from  this,  which  shows  a propensity  to 
speculate  upon  our  misfortunes,  there  arc  other  proceedings 
more  relevant  to  the  present  questions. 

The  Commission  has  already,  for  other  reasons,  stated  that 
Iturria  has  two  ranches  in  Texas  in  which  he  has  sheltered,  and 
shelters,  parties  engaged  in  cattle  stealing  ; and  not  only  this, 
but  one  of  these  he  employs  Pedro  Lucio  as  a herder.  In 
addition  to  him  there  are  also  Pedro  Cortina,  Justo  Lopez, 
Marcos  Sanchez,  and  Severiano  Hinojosa,  all  of  whom  have 
not  only  been  guilt}^  of  cattle  stealing  in  Texas,  but,  according 
to  what  has  been  stated  before  the  Commission,  belong  to  those 
who  were  in  connivance  with  the  band  of  Jose  Maria  Martinez 
and  Andres  Flores.  One  of  these  ranches  is  called  Punta  del 
Monte,”  and  within  its  corrales  have  been  found  calves  belong- 
ing to  other  people,  which  had  been  carried  there  for  the  pur- 
pose of  branding  them  with  Iturria’s  brand ; outside  of  the 
corral,  cows  bearing  other  brands  were  lowing,  which  is  a sure 
sign  that  their  calves  were  shut  up  inside.  The  calves  were  let 
out,  when  they  immediately  followed  the  cows,  an  equally  un- 
mistakable proof  that  they  belong  to  other  people. 

The  complainants  against  Mexico  state,  that  in  December 
of  1871,  (370)  three  hundred  and  seventy  hides  were  exported 
at  Matamoros,  from  “ Boca  del  Rio  ” for  Liverpool,  on  board 
the  Sarah  Douglass ; the  statement  is  correct,  except  in  some 
minor  particulars ; the  vessel  was  called  the  Mary  Douglass, 
and  the  exportation  took  place  in  November.  It  is  said  that 
these  hides  were  branded  with  the  brands  of  Americans,  and 
were  stolen.  The  Commission  thinks  that  this  statement  is 
correct,  and  upon  investigating  who  was  the  expoi’ter,  disco v 
ered  that  they  vvere  exported  by  the  house  of  Francisco  Itur- 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


175 


via,  at  Matamoros.  Furthermore,  this  house  was  the  only  one 
which  was  exporting  hides  at  “ Boca  del  Rio  ” in  1871,  and 
their  exportation  reached  the  number  of  (1,477)  fourteen  hundred 
and  seventy-seven  hides.  Nevertheless,  Francisco  Iturria  is  one 
of  the  parties  who  complain  of  the  robberies,  and  it  will  ap- 
pear strange,  that  in  order  to  thi’ow  the  blame  upon  the  Mexi- 
can frontier,  he  has  endeavored  to  support  the  charges  made 
against  Mexico,  or  his  own  complaints,  by  those  same  robbers 
which  are  sheltered  at  his  ranche,  and  that  these  charge  the 
bands  of  robbers  organized  in  Mexico  with  the  cattle  stealing. 

Adolpho  Glaevecke  and  William  D.  Thomas  (alias  Red 
Tom),  also  complain  of  the  robberies  and  the  losses  they  have 
suffered.  In  the  course  of  this  report,  the  conduct  of  both  of 
these  has  been  shown  as  to  horse  stealing  in  Mexico,  and  cattle 
stealing  in  Texas. 

The  Wrights  were  among  those  who  initiated  cattle  stealing 
on  the  Mexican  frontier.  Availing  themselves  of  the  disturb- 
ances, they  went  on  to  the  pasture  lands  under  the  pretence  of 
looking  for  their  own  cattle,  and  then  gathered  herds  together 
belonging  to  other  people,  which  they  subsequently  sold  in 
Mexico.  They  committed  these  depredations  at  the  head  of  a 
large  band  whom  they  paid,  and  had  for  accomplices  Patrick 
Quinn  and  Billy  Mann,  and  are  consequently  of  the  number 
who  have  contributed  towards  the  demoralization.  They  even 
now  continue  their  depredations  on  cattle,  by  selling  that  be- 
longing to  other  people,  or  branding  other  people’s  calves,  and 
these  men  have  also  raised  their  voices  to  assert  that  they  have 
been  robbed  by  Mexicans,  and  that  their  losses  amount  to  many 
thousands  of  dollars. 

It  is  said  of  Martin  S.  Culver,  in  an  article  published  in 
the  Texas  New  Yorker,  page  111,  and  who  is  held  up  as  an 
example  showing  the  facility  of  acquiring  a fortune  in  Texas, 
that  he  commenced  in  1856  by  receiving  ay^ro  rata  compensa- 
tion of  the  “ orejano  ” calves,  and  had  succeeded  in  amassing 
a property  of  which  his  share  was  (7,000)  seven  thousand  head 
of  cattle.  It  may  be  doubted  how,  in  so  short  a time,  he  has 
reached  this  position,  if  it  is  remembered  to  what,  in  the  de- 


176 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


moralized  language  reigning  among  the  stock  raisers  on  tlie 
Nueces,  the  name  of  orejano  is  given. 

II(;  also  presents  himself  as  one  of  the  victims  of  rohherj. 

Richard  King  has  in  his  service  a large  band  ; he  makes  use 
of  it  for  depredating  upon  other  people’s  cattle,  by  seizing  all  of 
the  unbranded  calves,  ■which  are  then  branded  with  King’s  brand, 
notwithstanding  the  ownership  of  the  calves  is  shown  by  their 
following  cows  bearing  other  people’s  brands.  These  depreda- 
tions are  continuous,  because  King’s  band  is  almost  always  un- 
interruptedly in  movement.  lie  thus  develops  and  maintains 
demoralization  among  a great  number  of  people,  because  only 
men  without  principle  could  accept  the  position  of  instruments 
for  the  commission  of  such  crimes.  lie  has  had  among  his 
herders  the  accomplices  in  robberies  committed  in  Texas  or 
Mexico,  as,  for  example,  Rernando  Lopez  and  Tomas  Vazquez  ; 
nevertheless,  he  states  that  his  injuries  amount  to  millions. 

These  instances  show  the  nature  of  the  complaints  ; but  it 
is  not  less  important  to  inquire  how  they  are  organized  by  the 
complainants.  A hundred  individuals  meet  and  render  each 
other  a mutual  support.  Each  one  asserts  that  some  one  of  the 
number  has  sutfered  great  losses,  and  he  in  his  turn  receives  a 
similar  service  from  all  the  others.  There  would  be  nothing 
remarkable  in  this,  if  the  press  of  a portion  of  Texas  had  not 
been  urging  the  formation  of  complaints  for  the  purpose  of  de- 
manding reparation,  showing  a personal  interest  in  the  matter, 
and  the  possibility  of  obtaining  a fortune  by  this  means.  This 
association  of  a hundred  individuals  have  each  the  same  cause, 
the  same  purposes,  the  same  pecuniary  interest,  and  each  of 
them,  to  the  success  of  his  interest,  is  supported  by  all  the  others. 
In  fact,  the  tendencies  of  these  hundred  individuals  is  the  same 
as  that  of  a single  person. 

To  support  their  pretensions,  they  call  upon  their  relatives 
and  employees,  who  form  a second  element  in  the  composition 
of  their  claims.  Tlien,  as  a third  one,  there  enters  a consider- 
able number  of  thieves  residing  in  Texas,  who  have  co-operated 
in  the  cattle  stealing,  and  who  doubtless  are  considered  hon- 
orable men,  because  they  are  produced  to  show  that  the  Mexi- 
can authorities  were  corrupt.  This  element  was  the  most  bitter 
in  its  statements  against  Mexico. 


NORTHERN"  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


177 


Some  of  those  who  supported  tlie  complaints  of  tlie  Texas 
people  appeared  before  this  Commission  to  depose,  and  there 
stated  the  contrary  to  what  they  appear  to  have  before  stated 
in  support  of  those  complaints.  With  regard  to  one  of  these 
witnesses,  his  perjury  is  evidently  shown.  With  regard  to 
another,  the  Commission  had  not  within  its  reach  the  means  to 
ascertain  whether  his  deposition  was  correct,  and  the  causes 
Avhich  he  assigned  in  explanation  of  the  discrepancy  true. 

The  number  of  impartial  persons  was  small.  And  as  stolen 
cattle  had  been  really  carried  into  Mexico,  the  statement  of 
those  with  regard  to  some  of  the  facts  served  to  give  an  aspect 
of  probability  to  the  perjurers,  several  of  which  the  Commis- 
sion have  noted  in  this  report.  The  complainants  did  not 
mention  the  true  condition  of  Texas  with  regard  to  the  way  in 
which  the  robberies  were  committed,  the  origin  of  these,  and 
the  great  state  of  demoralization  there  existing,  because  this 
would  have  been  their  own  condemnation.  They  either  in- 
vented or  distorted  the  facts,  either  by  attaching  circumstances 
to  them  which  did  not  occur,  or  suppressing  the  real  aspect  of 
those  they  presented.  They  ignored  the  fact  that  between  the 
Bravo  and  the  ISTueces  there  is  a large  Mexican  population, 
and  that  much  of  this  is  American.  They  confuse  the  question 
of  race  with  that  of  nationality  and  residence,  in  order  that 
speaking  in  general  terms  of  Mexicans  as  engaged  in  stealing, 
the  reproach  might  fall  upon  Mexico. 

The  means  employed  show  the  want  of  stronger  grounds, 
and  the  weakness  of  the  foundation  upon  which  the  charges 
made  agaiust  Mexico  by  the  complaining  Texans  rest.  The 
depth  of  these  charges  only  show  the  concerted  action  of  a 
small  number  of  persons  moved  by  personal  motives.  The 
statistics,  the  influence  exercised  with  regard  to  the  demorali- 
zation and  the  development  of  crime,  which  several  of  the 
complainants  have  had,  the  means  which  they  have  made  use 
of  to  systematize  the  injuries  with  a hope  of  a compensation, 
demonstrate  without  the  necessity  of  further  explanation,  what 
is  the  real  signification  of  “ compensation  for  the  pastf  the 
first  part  of  the  motto  adopted  against  Mexico. 

12 


178 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


XVL 

Combinations  have  been  made  upon  the  frontier  of  the 
United  States,  for  evils  of  a very  different  nature  from  horse 
stealing  in  Mexico,  and  the  means  for  carrying  them  into  exe- 
cution have  there  also  been  furnished. 

M'hen  the  institution  of  slavery  existed  in  the  United 
States,  some  of  the  slaves  succeeded  in  escaping  into  Mexico. 
Occasionally  the  old  masters  made  attempts  to  recover  their 
slaves,  and  for  this  purpose  organized  a party  with  which  they 
came  into  our  territory.  The  Commission  learned  of  three 
such  occurrences,  in  one  of  which  the  aggressors  were  assisted 
by  Mexicans  on  this  side.  There  was  a case  in  which  the  car- 
rying off  of  a family  of  five  persons  was  effected.  Of  these 
acts,  one  occurred  at  Matamoros,  another  near  Reynosa,  and 
the  last  at  Laredo.  It  is  just,  nevertheless,  to  remark  that 
Mexico  made  similar  attempts  to  recover  their  fugitive  servants 
from  Texas.  The  Commission  cannot  state  the  means  em- 
ployed, nor  the  mode  of  procedure,  because  it  has  not  learned 
the  details  of  any  case,  still  the  general  fact  is  proved  by  docu- 
ments taken  from  the  public  archives.  The  kidnapping  of  free 
men  of  color  has  also  been  among  the  crimes  planned  on  the 
Texas  side,  to  be  executed  in  Mexico.  The  Commission  were 
informed  of  two  cases.  In  the  first,  some  Americans  and  Mexi- 
cans crossed  to  this  side,  and  carried  off,  upon  the  pretext  of 
his  being  a slave  and  a thief,  one  Aunastasio  Aguado  or  Elua, 
whom  they  whipped  and  kept  in  prison  for  three  days.  The 
crime  was  committed  near  Matamoros,  but,  doubtless  owing  to 
the  measures  of  the  Mexican  authorities,  the  aggressors  found 
themselves  compelled  to  set  Aguado  at  liberty,  of  whom  it  is 
probable  they  intended  to  make  a slave. 

Tlie  second  case,  which  occurred  near  Mier,  was  less  suc- 
cessful. A Captain  Jack  made  use  of  the  services  of  a colored 
man  named  Melchor  Valenzuela,  a resident  of  Mexico,  to  steal 
a skiff  from  this  side.  When  Valenzuela  was  arrested  by  our 
authorities  he  confessed  the  fact,  and  he  was  released  on  bail. 


KORTHERX  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


179 


Pending  the  trial,  Captain  Jack  and  another  American,  Dixon, 
crossed  to  this  side,  and  threatening  Yalenzuela  with  a pistol, 
they  carried  him  off. 

The  illegal  attempts  against  individual  safety  not  only  as- 
sumed this  form,  but  others  more  serious.  One  of  the  most 
infamous  crimes  ever  committed  on  the  frontier  W'as  the  mur- 
der of  Juan  Chapa  Guerra,  a resident  at  Kanchito.  In  Janu- 
ary of  1850,  some  goods  were  stolen  from  Charles  Stillman, 
residing  at  Brownsville.  He  got  together  a force  of  Americans, 
with  which  he  left  the  American  side  in  search  of  the  stolen 
goods.  He  arrived  at  the  Palmito  ranche,  and  ordered  that  all 
the  people  there  should  be  tied  up  and  whipped  until  they 
confessed  who  where  the  thieves.  It  appears  that  he  made  no 
discovery  by  this  means.  He  w-as  informed  that  Juan  Chapa 
Guerra,  a resident  of  Mexico,  was  the  guilty  party,  he  tlien 
sent  his  party  to  Ranchito,  in  Mexico,  where  the  accused  lived. 
Tliey  seized  him  and  brought  him  into  Texas,  when  Stillman 
told  his  party  to  do  what  they  pleased  with  him,  Chapa  was 
whipped  and  then  killed.  It  was  afterwards  found  out  that 
there  had  been  a mistake  in  the  name ; that  the  guilty  party 
was  not  Juan  Cliapa  Guerra,  but  one  Juan  Chapa  Garcia. 
Tlie  judicial  proceedings  had  at  that  time,  disclosed  the  horri- 
ble details  of  the  murder.  Charles  Stillman  was  a person  of 
wealth,  and  who  exercised  a controlling  influence  in  Browns- 
ville. The  relatives  of  the  victim  tried  to  And  a lawyer,  but 
none  of  those  in  the  city  would  act  for  them  against  Stillman. 
Upon  the  solicitation  of  other  persons,  one  consented  privately 
to  give  advice.  This  simple  proceeding  is  enough  to  show 
the  condition  of  things  on  the  Texas  frontier.  This  murder 
was  never  punished. 

In  addition  to  these  attacks  upon  the  safety  of  private  indi- 
viduals, others  were  organized  against  the  public  employees. 
In  the  years  immediately  subsequent  to  1848,  smuggling  across 
tlie  frontier  of  the  United  States  into'  Mexico  increased  im- 
measurably. There  were  then  a party  of  smugglers,  consist- 
ing of  Americans  and  Mexicans,  who  defied  all  pursuit  and 
committed  the  most  outrageous  aggressions.  Two  most  serious 
occurrences  took  place,  which  show  the  then  condition  of  things. 


180 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


In  November  of  18-19,  a contraband  was  seized  by  tbe  cus- 
tom bouse  guards  at  Camargo.  IVliile  these  were  escorting  it 
they  were  attacked  at  tbe  Guardado  ranche,  in  the  jurisdiction 
of  Mier,  by  a party  of  Americans,  who  surprised  the  guards, 
recaptured  tbe  cai-go  and  crossed  it  into  Texas. 

In  August  of  1852,  the  custom  liouse  guard  of  Matamoros 
seized  a cargo  at  Olmos,  in  the  jurisdiction  of  lieynosa. 
While  on  the  road  the  guards  were  attacked  by  a partj'^  of  six 
Americans  and  sixteen  Texas  Mexicans ; among  the  former  were 
tlie  owners  of  the  goods.  These  were  carried  to  the  Capote  ford, 
where  boats  had  been  prepared  in  which  the  cargo  was  crossed 
to  the  United  States  side. 

In  addition  to  these  occurrences,  which  were  fully  consum- 
mated, in  January  of  1850,  a party  of  forty  Americans,  which 
had  been  organized  at  Koine,  in  Texas,  put  themselves  in  mo- 
tion for  the  purpose  of  recapturing  a cargo  which  had  been 
seized  by  the  custom  house  guards,  and  which  was  in  transit 
at  the  said  Guardado  ranche.  The  authorities  received  timely 
notice,  and  were  enabled  to  send  a force  sufficient  to  protect 
the  cargo. 

In  all  these  occurrences  it  does  not  appear  that  the  Texan 
authorities  took  any  measures  to  prevent  the  aggressions,  or  to 
punish  them  after  they  had  been  committed.  In  the  second 
of  the  occurrences  just  related,  Santiago  Enriches  (the  name  is 
probably  badly  spelled  in  the  documents  from  which  this  in- 
formation was  obtained),  who  was  one  of  the  owners  of  the 
goods,  quietlj’  returned  to  Edinburg,  in  Hidalgo  county,  after 
having  consummated  his  illegal -proceeding. 

The  discharge  of  fire-arms  from  the  United  States  side  upon 
the  Mexican  side  has  also  been  the  origin  of  accidents,  and  at 
times  of  conflicts.  Such  attacks  have  been  made  both  by  pri- 
vate individuals  and  by  the  United  States  forces,  and  tbe 
attacks  were  made  u[)on  persons  on  this  side  and  upon  troops 
stationed  there. 

The  Commission  received  information  with  regard  to  ten 
cases  of  this  nature,  which  it  will  proceed  briefly  to  state.  In 
April  of  185 1,  the  military  commandant  at  Mier  prohibited  cross- 
ing from  one  side  to  the  other  after  seven  o’clock  at  night  by 


NOKTHEllN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


181 


way  of  the  Arroyo  ford.  Later  than  this  hour,  four  Americans 
of  Rome,  Starr  county,  attempted  to  pass,  and  having  been  pre- 
vented, shots  were  exchanged  between  several  of  the  residents 
at  Rome  and  the  Mexican  guard.  It  is  not  clearly  stated  in 
the  documents  examined  by  the  Commission  how  the  attack 
began,  and  even  in  these  there  is  a difference  in  the  explanation. 
Tlie  military  commandant  at  Mier  went  to  Davis’  Camp  (Ring- 
gold  Barracks),  and  the  latter  offered  to  make  the  necessary 
investigations. 

On  the  llth  September,  1855,  at  nine  o’clock  at  night,  three 
Americans  approached  tlie  Riedras  Hegras  ford  from  the  Texas 
side,  and  requested  to  have  a skiff  sent  to  tliem.  The  boats 
were  on  the  Mexican  side,  and  passing  had  been  prohibited  that 
late  at  niHit  on  account  of  the  threatened  filibusterino:  invasiou. 
The  guard  answered  and  stated  the  prohibition,  upon  which  the 
three  individuals  refen-ed  to  opened  fire  upon  the  Mexican  force 
and  the  adjoining  houses,  which  firing  lasted  for  an  hour 
and  a half.  The  officer  in  command  of  the  Mexican  forces  went 
the  following  day  to  see  Captain  Burbank,  the  commander  of 
Fort  Duncan,  who  replied  to  him  that  the  guilty  parties  were 
civilians,  over  whom  the  military  had  no  authority,  but  never- 
theless he  would  endeavor  to  avoid  such  outrages,  and  in  case 
there  was  sufficient  proof,  the  civil  authorities  might  imprison 
and  punish  the  guilty  ones.  The  same  Mexican  commanding 
officer,  in  making  his  report  to  the  government  of  Nuevo  Leon, 
stated  that  he  had  given  orders  not  to  answer  the  fire  unless 
the  force  should  reach  the  middle  of  the  river,  in  order  not  to 
offend  the  United  States.  This  conduct  was  approved. 

"VYhat  is  remarkable  in  this  occurrence  is,  that  the  firing 
having  lasted  an  hour  and  a half,  that  neither  the  civil  authori- 
ties of  Texas  nor  tlie  military  authorities  of  the  United  States 
should  have  taken  any  steps  to  ascertain  what  was  going  on, 
aud  the  consequence  of  which  would  have  been  the  arrest  of 
the  guilty  parties.  This  shows  an  absolute  indifference  in  the 
fulfilment  of  a duty. 

At  the  time  of  Cortina’s  revolt,  at  the  end  of  1859,  the 
greatest  persecution  was  displayed  against  all  those  w'ho  it  was 
suspected  might  be  in  connivance  with  him.  The  family  of 


182 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


Teodosio  Zamora  lived  at  tlie  Reices  ranche,  on  the  Texas  side. 
An  American  foi'ce  went  there  ; the  family,  being  informed  of 
their  coming,  abandoned  their  house  and  property  to  cross  to 
this  side.  They  arrived  on  the  Mexican  side  at  the  same  time 
the  force  reached  the  ranche,  when  these  commenced  firing  upon 
the  refugees  acro:-s  the  river. 

About  9 o’clock  on  the  night  of  the  31st  of  December, 
1859,  firing  was  commenced  from  the  Texas  side  upon  the 
Garita  of  Santa  Cruz  in  Mexico.  This  Garita  is  in  front  of 
Brownsville.  The  attacking  partj^  hid  themselves  behind  some 
trees,  and  from  there  discharged  their  arms.  Some  of  the  balls 
penetrated  the  house  at  the  Garita.  The  firing  lasted  an  hour 
and  a half. 

A similar  oecurrence  took  place  on  the  night  of  February 
2d,  1860,  only  at  a diflferent  place.  The  one  selected  for  this 
attack  was  another  of  the  Garitas,  on  the  river  at  Matamoros, 
called  Freeport,  or  Parades.  The  firing  continued  long  enough 
for  the  alcalde  of  the  city  to  get  a force  of  police  together,  go 
to  the  place  where  the  occurrence  was  transpiring,  and  witness 
the  last  discharge  from  the  Texas  side. 

In  both  cases  the  darkness  of  the  night  prevented  the 
recognition  of  the  attacking  party,  but  it  is  undeniable  that 
the  length  of  time  the  firing  lasted  afforded  sufficient  oppor- 
tunity to  the  military  and  civil  authorities  of  Texas  to  inquire 
into  the  occurrence  and  suppress  the  outrage.  Their  negligence 
in  this  respect  furnishes  a just  ground  of  complaint. 

After  Juan  N.  Cortina  was  defeated  in  Texas,  and  took 
refuge  on  our  frontier,  a force  of  Texan  volunteers  took  up  a 
position  in  front  of  Reynosa.  This  same  force  had  previously 
invaded  the  town  ; but  the  people,  who  had  received  timely 
notice  of  what  was  going  on,  armed  themselves,  and  com- 
pelled the  invaders  to  recross  the  river.  After  the  volunteers 
had  reached  the  Texan  line,  they  fired  upon  the  Mexican  side, 
and  particularly  upon  the  people  of  tlie  town  when  they  came 
to  the  river  for  water.  Antonio  Loera  and  Juan  Barrera  were 
wounded.  The  authorities  at  Reynosa  made  complaint  to 
John  S.  Ford,  the  captain  of  the  volunteers ; his  reply  has 
been  lost,  but  by  the  answer  of  the  municipality  of  Reynosa, 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


183 


thanking  the  captain,  it  would  appear  that  the  latter  olFered  to 
make  an  investigation  upon  the  subject.  The  authorities  at 
Reynosa  and  Ford’s  forces  mutually  reproached  each  other  for 
the  commencement  of  these  aggressions.  The  presumption, 
however,  is  against  the  latter,  not  only  because  the  Mexican 
authorities,  understanding  the  weakness  of  our  frontier,  avoided 
a conflict,  but  also  the  pressure  under  which  the  volunteers 
were  compelled  to  abandon  Reynosa,  would  be  likely  to  create 
feelings  of  revenge  in  them. 

After  this  occurrence,  one  Saturday  in  Holy  Week,  the 
people  of  Reynosa  discharged  their  arms,  and  some  of  the 
halls  fell  in  the  camp  of  the  volunteers.  This  act  cannot  but 
be  presumed  to  have  been  intentional,  although  in  the  explana- 
tions given  by  the  authorities  at  Reynosa  to  Captain  Brackett 
and  Lieutenant  Owens,  who  were  commissioned  by  Colonel 
Lee  to  investigate  the  matter,  it  was  said  that  the  occurrence 
was  accidental,  and  they  appeared  to  be  satisfled.  Colonel 
Lee  ofiered  the  authorities  to  withdraw  the  volunteers  in  a few 
days,  which,  in  fact,  he  did  ; and  thus  the  difficulties  which 
for  several  months  had  so  frequentl}’’  occurred  between  both 
frontiers  were  terminated. 

At  the  time  of  the  attack  on  the  Clarefio  ranche,  Zapata 
county,  in  April  of  1871,  by  the  confederate  troops,  a party  of 
these  located  themselves  at  the  Carrizo,  and  from  there  fired 
upon  this  side.  The  municipality  of  Guerrero  complained  to 
the  commander  of  the  force,  and  he  replied  that,  so  far  as  his 
company  were  concerned,  they  would  do  no  injury  to  the  people 
of  Mexico ; but  at  the  same  time  he  said  this,  some  of  his  sol- 
diers fired  upon  some  persons  who  were  in  charge  of  some 
boats  on  this  side,  and  drove  them  away,  while  others  belong- 
ing to  the  force  swam  across  the  river  and  carried  them  off. 
The  authorities  at  Guerrero  sent  a force  to  occupy  the  point ; 
it  hardly  reached  the  bank  of  the  river  when  the  confederates 
made  a discharge  upon  it,  and  killed  Antonio  Ochoa. 

On  the  2d  April,  1862,  some  Americans  crossed  from  Texas 
into  Mexico  at  Piedras  Megras ; there  was  a quarrel  between 
them  and  some  Mexicans,  when  they  hastily  returned  to  the 
United  States  side  and  fired  some  shots  at  the  Garita,  which 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


ISl 

were  replied  to  bj  two  of  the  custom  house  guards.  During 
the  time  of  the  Coiifederacj,  in  August  of  18G3,  while  a boy- 
named  Kicanor  Gongora  was  on  the  edge  of  the  river  at  the- 
Parades  ford,  he  was  wounded  by  a shot  fired  from  the  Ameri- 
can side  by  a person  who  came  out  of  a tent.  The  aggressor 
was  a soldier,  who,  it  appears,  proceeded  deliberately,  because 
he  approached  the  river,  drew  his  pistol,  appeared  to  examine 
it,  and  then  fired.  The  boy  Gongora  died  the  following  day, 
and  the  guilty’  party  was  only  kept  in  prison  a few  days. 

In  December  of  186S,  some  United  States  soldiers,  who,  it 
is  believed,  were  in  pursuit  of  robbers,  approached  the  river  in 
front  of  the  Burita  ranche  ; they  saw  a boat  approaching  the 
Mexican  side,  and  fired  two  shots  at  it.  In  this  boat  there 
were  two  ladies  and  some  children.  One  of  the  former,  Mrs. 
Francisca  Hinojosa,  was  dangerously’  wounded. 

If  all  the  facts  related  by’  the  Commission  up  to  the  present 
time  be  considered  ; if  the  illegal  attempts  against  life,  personal 
liberty,  or  tbe  free  exercise  of  their  duties  by’  the  employees 
and  public  officers,  are  considered,  and  that  they  have  not  been 
single  acts,  but  have  been  repeated  at  different  times  over  a 
vast  extent  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  the  propensity  which  has 
existed,  upon  the  part  of  the  United  States  frontier,  to  depre- 
cate the  rights  of  Mexico,  will  be  apparent,  as  also  the  tolerance 
of  the  Texan  authorities,  a tolerance  which,  in  certain  cases, 
has  amounted  to  complicity.  Nevertheless,  however  serious 
these  facts  may  be,  they’  do  not  show  to  its  full  extent  the  in- 
vading spirit  which  has  reigned  upon  the  left  bank  of  the 
Bravo  river. 


XYII. 

The  Mexican  frontier  has  been  the  constant  victim  of  inva- 
sions organized  in  or  departing  from  the  United  States.  They’ 
may  be  classified  under  four  heads  : first,  those  the  purpose  of 
which  has  been  simply’  I’obbery’ ; second,  those  which,  under 
the  pretense  of  political  principles,  were  aggressive  against  the 


NORTHERN^  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


• 185 


nation  ; third,  those  -which  proclaimed  open  hostility  against 
Mexico  ; and  fourth,  those  which  involved  a certain  interven- 
tion on  tlie  part  of  the  United  States  forces  in  the  internal 
questions  of  Mexico. 

Those  under  the  first  head  commenced  in  ISiS.  A force  of 
American  volunteers  left  Matamoros  ; it  is  believed  that  they 
were  discharged,  although  it  is  not  certain.  They  went  to  the 
city  of  Guerrero,  and  from  thence  to  Nuevo  Leon,  in  the  in- 
terior. On  the  16th  of  July  in  the  same  year,  tliey  arrived  at 
Villa  Aldama,  stating  that  they  were  on  their  way  to  Monterey, 
for  the  purpose  of  joining  the  forces  which  were  going  to  Cali- 
fornia. During  that  day  and  night  there  was  nothing  in  their 
conduct  calculated  to  discover  their  intentions.  On  the  follow- 
ing day,  they  dispersed  in  groups  of  six  or  eight,  and  took  up 
position  at  the  principal  houses.  The  officer  in  command  then 
applied  to  the  alcalde,  for  the  purpose  of  calling  the  municipal- 
ity and  the  curate  together,  with  a view  to  inform  them 
of  a communication  from  General  Wolf;  this  was  done,  when 
the  officer  immediately  ordered  the  doors  to  be  closed,  and  he 
and  three  soldiers  cocked  their  pistols,  and  he  then  notified 
the  alcalde,  that  if,  within  fifteen  minutes,  (§60,000)  sixty  thou- 
sand dollars  were  not  paid,  that  he  would  fire  a shot,  and  this 
would  be  the  signal  for  the  pillage.  The  impossibility  of  deliv- 
ering so  large  a sum  was  notorious;  each  one  offered  to  give 
what  they  had,  and  he  accepted  the  proposition.  They  com- 
menced visiting  the  several  houses  in  company  with  the  officer 
in  command  of  the  volunteers,  for  the  purpose  of  his  receiving 
the  money ; he  thought  they  were  deceiving  him,  gave  the  sig- 
nal, and  the  pillaging  began.  The  town  was  robbed,  several 
persons  were  killed,  the  alcalde  was  tortured  and  hung  in  his 
own  house,  to  make  him  confess  where  he  had  his  tnoney. 

On  the  same  day,  this  same  party  of  volunteers  left  for 
.Sabinas;  they  arrived  there  at  half  past  one  o’clock.  Part  of 
them  surrounded  the  town,  and  the  remainder  divided  them- 
selv'es  up  into  parties  of  ten  or  a dozen  ; upon  a signal  of  four 
shots,  the  pillaging  commence^,  and  the  same  acts  of  robbery 
were  repeated  which  had  been  committed  at  Yillaldama.  A 
force  of  volunteers  were  at  this  time  quietly  passing  through 


186 


EEPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


Laredo,  when  the  American  commandant  was  informed  of  the 
horrors  being  committed  by  this  party.  He  replied  that  it  was 
his  duty  to  arrest  the  guilty,  but  that  he  had  not  sufficient  force 
to  do  so. 

On  the  night  of  tlie  12tb  of  December,  1848,  the  Pando 
ranche  was  attacked,  the  witnesses  say,  by  United  States  sol- 
diers; but  the  Commission  doubts  whether  they  may  not  have 
been  volunteers  belonging  to  the  company  which,  at  different 
times,  tlie  State  of  Texas  had  in  its  service  on  the  banks  of  the 
Rio  Grande.  The  soldiers  belonged  to  an  encampment  which 
was  opposite  Pando,  a few  leagues  to  the  east  of  Brownsville. 
The}’  crossed  to  this  side,  fired  upon  the  houses,  and  killed 
Encarnacion  Garza.  On  the  14th,  they  returned,  and  robbed 
the  ranclie,  which  had  been  abandoned  by  its  inhabitants  on 
account  of  these  outrages ; it  was  completely  plundered,  and 
the  horses  and  cattle  stolen. 

In  October  of  1859,  the  Arroyo  Saco  ranche,  situated  eight 
leagues  to  the  east  of  Matamoros,  was  attacked  by  a party  of 
soldiers,  who  were  encamped  opposite  the  ranche.  Although 
the  witnesses  call  them  United  States  soldiers,  the  Commission 
is  in  doubt  whether  they  were  such,  or  whether  they  belonged 
to  the  Texas  volunteers. 

Six  soldiers  entered  the  house  at  the  ranche,  threatened  the 
people  with  death  in  case  of  resistance,  tied  them  up,  stole 
everything  there  was  there,  and  afterwai’ds  returned  to  the 
Texas  side. 

About  the  middle  of  May,  1864,  a cotton  train,  which  was 
on  the  road  between  Reynosa  and  Matamoros,  was  attacked. 
The  cartmen,  upon  being  surprised,  abandoned  it,  when  a force 
of  the  people  of  Reynosa  came  to  their  assistance,  and  pursued 
the  assailants,  who  were  a lieutenant  and  two  soldiers,  Mexicans 
by  birth,  then  in  the  United  States  service,  and  forming  part  of 
the  garrison  at  Edimburg,  in  Texas.  The  lieutenant’s  name 
was  Hinojosa  ; the  names  of  the  soldiers  were  Sabas  Garcia  and 
Severe  Resendez  ; the  two  latter  were  arrested.  Tlie  former  of 
these  is  the  captain  Garcia  who  recently  served  under  General 
Cortina’s  orders,  and  is  accused  as  being  an  accomplice  in  the 
cattle  stealing. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


187 


On  the  night  of  the  14th  of  January,  1856,  the  force  of  the 
imperial  garrison  at  the  town  of  Bagdad  (Boca  del  Rio)  was 
surprised  by  an  American  force  which  was  on  the  opposite  side 
in  the  camp  at  Clarksville.  The  imperial  forces  were  dispersed, 
and  the  Americans  took  possession  of  the  place  ; the  soldiers  of 
the  latter  were  colored,  and  under  command  of  white  officers. 
A plundering  of  the  place  was  organized.  The  person  who  had 
been  alcalde  was  murdered,  because  he  refused  to  give  up  his 
watch,  as  was  a little  girl,  in  order  to  take  from  her  a trifling 
sum  which  she  was  carrying  in  her  hand,  with  which  to  buy 
meat.  The  pillaging  lasted  twenty-two  days.  A party  took 
up  his  quarters  at  the  “ San  Carlos  Hotel,”  and  placed  a sign 
on  his  door  saying,  “ United  States  Quartermaster P When  a 
group  of  the  plunderers  had  loaded  themselves  with  booty,  and 
crossed  it  to  the  other  side,  another  party  came  to  carry  on  the 
same  operation.  Hight  and  day  they  were  at  this  work,  and 
carried  off  the  goods  from  the  stores  and  shops.  They  took  the 
steamer  ‘‘ Prince  of  Wales  ” and  other  boats,  loaded  them, 
crossed  them  over  to  the  other  side,  discharged  them  there,  and 
then  brought  them  back  again  to  this  side  and  loaded  them 
again.  The  officers  paid  the  laborers,  who  were  working  in 
transferring  the  stolen  property  from  the  houses  and  stores  to 
tlie  bank  of  the  river,  five  dollars.  A few  days  after  it  began, 
a force  of  dragoons  arrived,  upon  the  pretext  of  suppressing  tlie 
disorder,  and  then  they  joined  in  it  also.  The  plundering  ceased 
at  the  end  of  twenty-two  daj's,  the  towm  was  destroyed,  and  its 
inhabitants  ruined.  A letter  from  the  collector  of  the  custom 
house  at  Clarksville,  said  : “ I had  resided  three  weeks  at  that 
point  (Clarksville),  when  the  colored  troops  belonging  to  the 
118th  regiment  seized  the  vessels  which  were  in  my  care,  crossed 
the  river  and  took  Bagdad.  They  there  plundered  houses  and 
killed  people — the  scene  was  indescribable.  The  soldiers  mur- 
dered people  in  the  streets,  because  they  refused  to  give  up  their 
purses ; and  they  threatened  to  shoot  me  because  I made  them 
pay  importation  duties.” 

The  invasions  to  which  a political  character  have  been 
ascribed  were,  in  part,  acts  of  plundering ; and  some  of  these 


188 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


were  accompanied  by  circumstances  which  Avere  really  dis- 
graceful. 

At  the  beginning  of  September,  1851,  Josd  Maria  J.  Carba- 
jal, subsequently  a general  of  the  republic,  seconded  by  a great 
number  of  the  inhabitants  on  the  Mexican  frontier,  made  a 
I’evolutionary  proclamation  at  the  “ Lobar,”  Mexico,  in  Avhich 
he  set  forth,  as  a political  measure,  the  expulsion  of  the  army 
from  tlie  frontier,  and,  as  a commercial  measure,  the  reduction 
of  duties  and  the  removal  of  prohibitions. 

These  ideas  were  extraordinarily  popular  in  that  part  of  the 
country.  The  old  army  had  behaved  in  an  oppressive  manner 
towards  the  towns  on  the  frontier,  and  this  had  rendered  it  ex- 
ceedingly distasteful  to  them.  The  commercial  restrictions  had 
reduced  the  towns  on  the  line  of  the  Bravo  to  a state  of  misery, 
and  the  people  were  daily  seen  leaving  with  their  means  for  the 
United  States. 

General  Carbajal,  after  having  proclaimed  these  principles, 
established  himself  at  Rio  Grande  city,  in  Texas,  Avhere  he 
commenced  gathering  together  and  organizing  his  elements  for 
the  purpose  of  crossing  into  Mexico  and  combating  the  there 
existing  authorities.  The  Mexicans  who  accompanied  him 
knew  nothing  of  his  plans;  tliey  commenced  understanding 
them  about  the  middle  of  September,  1851,  when  the  force 
which  had  been  gathered  together  at  Rio  Grande  City  crossed 
from  Texas  into  Mexico.  xVmong  this  force  there  were  some 
thirty  Americans,  which  greatly  displeased  the  inhabitants  of 
the  frontier  who  had  joined  Carbajal ; but  all  this  was  settled 
by  his  promise  that  they  should  be  the  only  ones  who  he  would 
receive  in  aid  of  the  enterprise. 

The  result  of  the  first  action  Avas  unfavorable  to  the  govern- 
ment ; the  town  of  Camargo  Avas  attacked,  taken,  and  its 
garrison  capitulated.  A few  days  afterwards  they  advanced  on 
Matamoros.  From  the  day  after  their  arrival  in  front  of  the 
toAvn,  parties  of  Americans,  to  the  number  of  three  or  four  hun- 
dred men,  Avho  publicly  crossed  the  river  at  the  Parades  Garita 
and  other  points,  commenced  joining  Carbajal’s  forces. 

This  produced  a disagreeable  -impression  upon  those  Avho 
participated  in  Carabjal’s  views.  The  people  of  Matamoros, 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


189 


among  whom  the  plan  of  the  “ Loba”  had  been  popular,  de- 
cided to  oppose  the  movement,  seeing  in  it  not  a revolution, 
but  an  invasion.  They  considered  that  the  governing  spirit 
was  filibustering,  and  that  nothing  but  evil  could  result  to  the 
frontier  by  giving  the  question  such  a direction.  The  subse- 
quent occurrence  justified  these  fears.  The  Americans  who 
crossed  into  Texas  consisted  of  some  companies  of  Texan  volun- 
teers (Rangers),  wdio  had  been  serving  on  the  banks  of  the 
Bravo,  and  had  just  been  discharged.  General  Carbajal  en- 
listed them  for  six  months.  In  his  proclamation  of  the  25th  of 
September,  1851,  he  explained  the  reasons  which  had  decided 
him  to  take  this  step.  The  commander  of  these  companies, 
and  the  second  in  command  of  the  whole  of  the  expedition,  was 
Captain  John  S.  Ford,  whose  conduct  during  the  whole  course 
of  his  life  has  ever  been  absolutely  hostile  to  Mexico. 

The  movement  counted  upon  the  support  of  Charles  Still- 
man, a merchant  of  wealth  residing  at  Brownsville,  who  fur- 
nished it  with  considerable  resources.  The  Americans  residing 
in  that  city  also  supported  it ; several  of  them  crossed  in  the 
afternoon,  participated  in  the  fighting,  which  took  place  during 
the  night,  and  returned  to  Brownsville  on  the  morning  of  the 
following  day  to  attend  to  their  business.  Hight  and  daj’  they 
were  crossing  from  that  city  into  Mexico,  by  the  public  fords, 
both  ammunition  and  provisions.  Some  houses  'were  inten- 
tionally burned,  and  the  combustibles  were  obtained  from  the 
house  of  Charles  Stillman.  The  siege  lasted  nine  da3's,  during 
which  all  these  horrors  were  committed.  About  the  end  of 
October,  the  assailants  were  repulsed  and  compelled  to  retire. 
Everything  showed  that  the  movement  had  been  perverted. 
From  a political  point  of  view,  the  prevailing  spirit  in  the  oc- 
currences which  had  taken  place,  was  a hostility  on  the  part  of 
the  Texas  frontier  against  that  of  Mexico.  In  its  fiscal  char- 
acter, the  movement  degenerated  into  smuggling  operations, 
in  which  the  people  of  Brownsville  were  interested.  For  the 
inhabitants  of  the  Texas  side,  it  was  a means  of  prosecuting  the 
attempts  began  in  184-8,  and  leading  to  the  ruin  of  our  towns  on 
the  Bravo,  for  the  purpose  of  aiding  the  progress  of  their  own. 
This  latter,  and  the  prejudices  which  had  been  created  between 


190 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


both  frontiers,  explained  the  popularity  of  that  movement  on 
the  Texas  side,  and  the  animosity  displayed  by  the  inhabitants 
of  Matamoros  in  resisting  the  attack.  The  result  of  this  was, 
that  General  Carabajkl,  after  his  retreat,  was  little  by  little 
abandoned  by  the  Mexicans  wlio  had  accompanied  him.  He 
took  refuge  with  Ins  force  in  Texas,  and  established  his  camp 
at  the  “ Sal,”  in  Hidalgo  county. 

Monterey — Lerado  was  menaced,  during  several  months, 
by  a party  of  the  same  adventurers  under  the  command  of 
James  Willreison  and  E.  Alt  Evans,  who  crossed  several  times 
during  the  first  half  of  1852,  and  carried  arms  in  the  name  of 
General  Carbajal.  Complaint  was  made  to  the  commander 
at  Fort  McIntosh,  and  he  replied  that  the  acts  in  question  were 
those  of  pillage,  against  which  he  could  do  nothing  as  a mili- 
tary officer.  These  adventurers  were  at  Lerado,  in  Texas ; 
they  were  supported  there,  and  crossed  to  this  side  with  im- 
punity to  commit  these  outrages. 

In  September  of  1861,  General  Carbajal  with  his  forces 
crossed  a second  time ; they  went  to  Cerralvo,  and  were  there 
defeated.  In  Februaiy  of  1852,  he  made  a third  attempt  near 
Camargo,  was  again  defeated,  and  thereupon  took  refuge  with 
his  followers  in  Texas. 

In  these  cases  the  enlistment,  the  gathering  of  the  people, 
the  camping,  all  was  done  publicly.  The  authorities  of  Starr 
county,  wliich  was  the  base  for  the  organization,  took  a most 
active  part.  N.  P.  Norton,  the  district  judge  of  the  county, 
headed  the  last  expedition  of  this  kind  in  March,  1853.  At 
this  time  no  political  principles  were  invoked  ; it  was  purely 
and  simply  acts  of  vandalism  and  robbery. 

On  the  twenty-fifth  of  March,  1853,  N.  P.  Norton  crossed 
from  the  Texas  side  into  Mexico,  at  Reynosa  Biejo.  He  was 
accompanied  by  forty  Americans  and  ten  Texan  Mexicans. 
He  reached  Reynosa  on  the  26th,  where  he  arrested  the  alcalde 
and  Francisco  Garcia  Trevino,  whom  he  threatened  to  shoot 
if  within  two  hours  they  did  not  deliver  (§30,000)  thirty  thou- 
sand dollars.  The  former  he  shut  up  and  kept  a prisoner ; his 
force  disseminated  itself  through  the  town,  plundered  various 
houses,  stole  all  the  horses,  mules  and  arms  which  they  could 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


191 


find.  The  people  were  only  able  to  get  together  two  thousand 
dollars,  which  were  delivered  to  Norton.  He  abandoned 
Reynosa  at  five  o’clock  on  the  afternoon  of  the  26th,  pursued 
by  a force  which  had  left  Caniargo ; a slight  skirmish  took 
place,  and  in  the  night  Norton  crossed  the  river  at  the  Capote 
ford.  The  only  purpose  of  his  expedition  was  robbery,  and 
this  was  done  by  the  first  authority  of  the  county.  He  and 
two  of  his  accomplices  were  indicted  at  Brownsville  fora  viola- 
tion of  the  United  States  neutrality  law’s;  in  June  of  1855, 
that  is  two  years  after  the  indictment,  a ‘‘  nolle  jprosequV'  was 
entered  in  the  case. 

The  thii’d  class  of  aggressions  comprises  the  cases  in  which 
open  hostility  wms  manifested  against  the  Mexican  nation.  The 
first  of  these  was  the  invasion  of  Piedras  Negras,  in  1855. 

This  expedition  was  organized  at  San  Antonio,  Texas  ; 
several  men  of  means  took  part  in  the  enterprise,  and  two 
hundred  men  who  had  served  in  the  Rangers,  constituted  the 
force.  The  pretext  was  the  pursuit  of  the  tribe  of  Lipan  In- 
dians of  whom  the  Texans  complained,  accusing  them  of  being 
the  authors  of  much  of  the  injury  suffered  by  them.  It  is 
probable,  nevertheless,  that  one  of  the  incentives  was  the 
captui’e  of  fugitive  slaves,  a great  number  of  w'hich  had  taken 
refuge  on  the  frontier  of  Coahuila  ; the  negotiations  previously 
initiated  with  several  persons  at  San  Antonio  makes  this  to  be 
suspected.  If  successful,  they  wmuld  not  stop  there  ; a more 
extended  field  of  operations  would  present  itself  to  the  adven- 
turers, even  the  occupation  of  the  country.  Under  the  pretext 
then  of  the  Lipans,  there  were  necessarily  concealed  more  ex- 
tensive plans. 

On  the  25th  of  August,  1855,  some  Americans,  residing  at 
San  Antonio,  Texas,  addressed  Colonel  Lanberg,  wdio  was  in 
command  of  the  frontier  at  Coahuila,  inquiring  from  him  upon 
what  conditions  he  would  deliver  up  the  negroes  who  had 
taken  refuge  in  Mexico,  how  many  could  be  recovered,  how 
much  would  have  to  be  paid  for  each  delivered  on  the  banks 
of  the  river,  and  the  mode  of  payment.  The  finale  of  the 
letter  contains  a covert  threat;  it  says  : “ Our  future  measures 


192 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


and  proceedings  ■will  wholly  depend  upon  the  report  made  by 
you  ; in  the  mean  time  we  are  preparing  to  act  jiromptly.  ” 

Colonel  Lanberg  gave  a favorable  reply,  and  suggested  the 
idea  of  an  arrangement  by  which  the  runaway  negroes  should 
be  exchanged  for  the  Mexican  “ peones  ” wlio  had  taken  refuge 
in  Texas;  he  also  supported  the  project  with  the  government 
of  hiuevo  Leon.  The  Commission,  in  passing,  are  compelled 
to  condemn  this  attempt  on  the  part  of  a government  officer  to 
make  an  exchange  of  human  flesh,  and  this,  at  the  same  time, 
shows  the  necessity  that  Mexico  should  be  represented  on  the 
frontier  by  men  of  high  tone,  and  who,  by  their  character,  will 
command  respect  and  consideration. 

The  government  of  IS’uevo  Leon,  on  the  11th  of  September, 
replied  that,  in  fact,  it  was  convinced  of  the  injuries  suffered  by 
both  frontiers,  but  that,  in  matters  of  this  nature,  it  could  not  enter 
into  arrangements  with  private  individuals;  that  theproper  party 
to  initiate  these  was  the  Governor  of  Texas,  with  whom  it  was 
ready  to  come  to  an  arrangement,  by  making  a provisional 
agreement,  until  the  government  in  Mexico  should  be  organ- 
ized. The  communication  concluded  in  the  following  terms : 
“ If,  notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  the  people  of  ‘ Bejar,’  who 
have  addressed  you  (Colonel  Lanberg),  decide  to  invade  our 
frontier  with  a view  of  recovering  their  runaway  negroes  and 
stolen  horses,  in  this  case  you  will  be  compelled  to  repel  force 
with  force.” 

The  communication  of  the  government  of  Nuevo  Leon  re- 
quiring an  impossible  condition,  was  a refusal,  and  it  was  fully 
understood  by  both  sides  that  an  aggression  was  to  follow. 
All  these  antecedents  give  reason  to  believe  that  the  question  of 
the  Lipans  was  but  a pretext. 

The  expedition  arrived  at  the  bank  of  the  river  on  the  first 
of  October,  1855  ; this  same  day  twelve  Americans  opposite 
Piedras  Negras  seized  two  skiffs,  and  carried  them  to  the  place 
on  the  river  Avhere  the  filibusters  were  encamped,  a league 
fiom  Fort  Duncan.  The  party  crossed  the  river  without  being 
molested,  notwithstanding  the  publicity  which  had  been  given 
to  the  expedition.  On  the  3d  of  October  they  were  defeated 
by  the  Mexican  troops,  at  the  place  called  the  “ Maroma ; ” 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


193 


after  their  defeat  they  retreated,  and  arrived  at  Piedras 
Negras,  which  town  they  pillaged  and  burned.  The  Mexican 
forces,  which  had  been  detained  awaiting  ammunition,  arrived 
near  Piedras  Negras  on  the  6th,  and  there  stopped,  without 
attacking  the  filibusters,  because  the  commander  of  Fort 
Duncan  had  made  demonstrations  to  protect  them.  These 
demonstrations  consisted  in  placing  four  pieces  of  cannon 
pointing  upon  Piedras  Negras,  while  the  invaders  quietly 
crossed  without  molestation,  carrying  with  them  what  they  had 
stolen  from  the  place,  and  in  full  view  of  the  civil  authorities 
of  Texas  and  of  the  military  authorities  of  the  United  States. 
After  reaching  the  other  side,  the  filibusters  made  a breastwork 
of  bags  of  flour,  corn,  and  sugar,  which  they  had  stolen  at 
Piedras  Negras,  and  from  thence  fired  upon  the  town,  without 
the  military  authority  at  Fort  Duncan  interposing  any  obstacle. 
The  people  at  Piedras  Negras  informed  the  Mexican  officer 
commanding  that  during  the  continuance  of  the  invaders  in 
the  town,  two  companies  from  Fort  Duncan  crossed  over  every 
night  to  protect  the  filibusters,  and  retired  again  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  following  day.  Complaint  was  made  to  the  com- 
mander of  the  said  fort  concerning  these  hostile  proceedings, 
and  his  reply  is  far  from  being  satisfactory.  The  defeat  of  the 
filibusters  created  a feeling  of  great  indignation  at  San  An- 
tonio, Texas,  because  a very  different  result  had  been  expected. 
A meeting  was  held,  at  which  it  was  resolved  to  invite  the 
people  of  Texas  to  join  in  a campaign  against  the  Mexican 
Indians,  to  request  the  government  to  furnish  arms,  and  that  it 
should  take  the  necessary  measures  for  the  purpose  in  view. 
C.  Jones,  J.  H,  Callaghan,  S.  A.  Willcox,  T.  Sutherland,  Asa 
Mitchell,  and  J.  A.  Mavei’ick  published  the  call,  and  appointed 
the  15th  of  November  for  the  meeting  of  the  volunteers  at  the 
confluence  of  the  Santa  Clara  and  Cibolo  rivers.  A committee 
was  appointed  to  receive  contributions,  and  the  officers  of  the 
expedition  were  appointed. 

Under  the  pretext  of  the  Lipan  Indians,  a more  extensive 
filibustering  expedition  was  organized  than  the  previous  one 
had  been.  Capitalists  took  part  in  it,  and  in  reality  the  ques- 
tion assumed  that  character  which  the  difficulties  between  the 
13 


19i 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


frontiers  have  always  assumed,  when  the  greater  influence  is 
exercised  by  the  Texans  on  the  bank  of  the  Rio  Bravo.  It 
was  a war  of  invasion  openly  proclaimed,  and  the  most 
remarkable  feature  was  the  publicity  given  to  those  acts, 
and  the  aid  demanded  from  the  government  of  Texas.  If 
there  existed  but  this  fact,  it  would  be  sufficient  to  decide 
as  to  what  is  the  cause  of  all  the  questions  on  the  fron- 
tier, and  what  is  the  prevailing  opinion  among  the  inhabitants 
of  Texas  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Rio  Bravo.  A short  time  after 
this  call  was  made,  the  circumstances  attending  the  defeat  of 
the  filibusters  began  to  be  known,  and  it  was  understood  that 
the  undertaking  presented  more  difficulties  than  had  at  first 
been  anticipated.  The  capitalists  withdrew  their  names,  while 
the  attitude  assumed  by  the  government  of  the  ^United  States 
was  sufficient  to  put  an  end  to  further  attempts. 

Cortina’s  revolt  in  1859,  and  his  taking  refuge  in  Mexico  in 
1860,  were  also  made  the  pretext  of  invasion  by  the  volunteers 
in  the  service  of  Texas.  They  were  headed  by  John  S.  Ford, 
captain  of  one  of  the  companies,  and  who  had  been  in  com- 
mand of  the  filibusters,  and  the  second  in  command  of  the 
expedition  which  attacked  Matamoros. 

The  trouble  began  to  be  felt  in  January  of  1860.  At  the 
end  of  this  month,  a party  of  Americans  appeared  in  front  of 
the  Soledad  ranche  and  fired  upon  families  residing  there,  and, 
almost  at  the  same  time,  eight  of  them  were  seen  on  our  side 
in  the  direction  of  the  same  ranche.  On  the  fourth  of  Febru- 
ary, the  Bolsa  ranche  was  attacked  and  burned,  and  the  occu- 
pants killed.  An  explanation  of  these  disgraceful  occurrences 
lias  been  attempted  in  a suppositious  attack  on  the  steamer 
Ranchero  by  Cortina,  a supposition  which  was  sufficient  for 
Mifflin  Kennedy,  the  owner  of  that  steamer,  to  swear  that  he 
sufiered  great  losses. 

General  Scott,  in  his  report  to  the  war  department  at  Wash- 
ington, on  the  19th  of  May,  1860,  states  that  there  M^as  no  such 
attack,  and  his  statement  is  perfectly  true.  Cortina  arrived  at 
this  ranche  from  up  the  river,  remained  there  several  days, 
and  was  about  leaving  the  place  because  he  was  suspicious  of 
it ; during  the  night  the  Ranchero  arrived  with  a force  on  board. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


195 


and  anchored  in  front  of  the  Bolsa.  The  people  on  board  fired 
several  shots  at  the  ranche  which  were  replied  to.  The  force 
then  landed,  concealing  its  movements,  and  surrounded  the 
ranche.  After  sharp  firing,  Cortina  retreated  to  a place  in  the 
neighborhood,  where  he  remained  until  the  following  day,  when 
American  cavalry  crossed  over.  So,  far  from  the  Ranchero 
having  been  attacked,  she  served  as  the  means  of  an  aggression 
against  our  frontier,  an  aggression  which  had  been  previously 
organized,  and  in  the  execution  of  which  the  steamer  ap- 
proached the  Bolsa,  and  those  who  where  on  board  of  her 
opened  hostilities  against  the  Mexican  lines. 

There  occurred  then  what  took  place  on  all  the  following 
invasions,  an  unoftending  man  was  accidentally  killed,  another, 
Cleto  Garcia,  was  arrested  and  Inmg  by  the  volunteers  as  one  of 
Cortina’s  friends,  although  he  was  a peaceable  and  inoflensive 
man ; after  the  murdering,  robbing,  aud  burning  the  ranche, 
the  volunteers  stole  horses,  killed  cattle,  aiid  then  crossed  the 
river  at  the  Santa  Maria  ford. 

Cortina’s  revolt  was  a critical  period  for  the  Mexican 
population  on  the  left  bank.  All  who  were  suspected  of 
sympathizing  with  him,  were  murdered  without  pity,  their 
families  compelled  to  fly,  and  their  property  stolen.  The 
conduct  initiated  by  the  volunteers  at  the  Bolsa  was  followed 
up  on  the  occasion  of  the  second  invasion. 

The  military  authorities  at  Matamoros  received  notice  that 
Cortina  was  at  the  “ Mesa  ” ranche,  and  sent  a force  in  pursuit 
of  him.  They  notified  Major  Heintzleman,  of  the  United 
States  Army,  to  be  on  the  alert  on  the  left  bank,  and  the 
Major  communicated  the  notice  to  the  troops  who  were  at 
Brownsville  and  Edinburg.  The  Mexican  forces  arrived  at 
the  Mesa  without  having  heard  anything  of  Cortina,  and 
departed  again  leaving  a picket  force  of  twenty-six  men  there. 
Ford,  the  captain  of  the  volunteers,  crossed  at  Rosario  on  the 
night  of  the  16th  of  March,  and  attacked  the  picket  which  had 
been  left  at  the  Mesa  ; some  of  the  soldiers  were  killed,  others 
dispersed,  and  the  rest  made  prisoners.  Captain  Ford  then 
discovered  that  they  were  Mexican  forces,  and  explained  by 
saying  that  it  had  been  an  error,  as  his  scouts  had  informed 


196 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


him  that  Cortina  was  at  the  “ Mesa.”  A youth  at  the  ranche 
was  wounded,  several  houses  were  pillaged,  the  money  destined 
for  the  payment  of  the  force  stolen,  but  few  articles  were  ever 
restored. 

The  disrespect  towards  our  soil  had  inordinately  increased 
with  these  people.  The  volunteers,  instead  of  returning  to 
Texas,  went  several  leagues  inward,  and  made  incursions  upon 
our  frontier.  They  visited  several  ranches,  made  prisoners  of 
the  people,  and  pursued  those  who  fled  to  the  woods.  They 
searched  for  Cortina’s  friends  to  hang  them.,  and  at  the 
“ Magueyes  ranche  ” killed  Elijio  Tagle,  stole  horses,  and  sev- 
eral days  after  returned  to  Texas. 

Ever  seeking  the  friends  of  Cortina,  or  rather  making  use 
of  this  as  a pretext.  Captain  Ford  again  crossed  into  Mexico  at 
lieynosa  Vieja,  on  the  ith  of  April,  1860,  and  shut  the  people 
up  in  some  sheds,  to  prevent  them  from  giving  notice  to  the 
authorities  at  San  Antonio  de  Reynosa,  but  these  had  had 
timely  notice  that  an  invasion  was  on  foot,  and  soon  learned 
what  was  going  on,  and  that  the  Texan  volunteers,  to  the  num- 
ber of  sixty  men,  were  within  two  leagues.  The  people  were 
armed  and  ready ; Ford  penetrated  the  town  to  the  principal 
square,  and  when  he  arrived  there,  the  people  showed  them- 
selves on  the  roofs  of  the  houses,  and  at  the  heads  of  the  streets, 
and  gave  Ford  to  understand  that  he  was  surrounded,  and  that 
they  would  not  permit  the  slightest  disorder;  Ford  stated  that 
he  had  crossed  upon  the  authority  of  General  Guadalupe  Garcia, 
and  produced  an  order  signed  by  him,  authorizing  him,  Ford, 
to  cross  to  the  Bolsa  ranche,  and  arrest  Cortina,  whom  he  was 
informed  was  there  ; he  also  demanded  the  delivery  to  him  of 
such  friends  of  Cortina  as  were  at  lieynosa.  They  answered 
him  that  their  town  was  not  the  Bolsa,  and  that  they  had  no 
friends  of  Cortina  there.  Ford  found  himself  compelled  to 
abandon  the  town  and  depart  by  the  public  ford,  because  they 
would  not  permit  him  to  cross  elsewhere,  being  suspicious  of 
his  intentions  towards  the  ranches.  After  he  had  crossed,  a 
conflict  ensued  by  the  firing  across  the  river,  as  previously 
stated  by  the  Commission. 

The  Commission  had  diligently  sought  to  ascertain  whether 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


197 


the  Mexican  authorities  ever  gave  the  volunteer  force  permis- 
sion to  cross.  With  regard  to  the  invasion  of  the  “ Mesa,”  the 
raids  subsequently  made  on  several  ranches,  and  their  appear- 
ance at  Reynosa,  the  documents  which  were  exchanged  con- 
cerning these  acts,  show  that  not  only  had  they  no  permission,  but 
that  the  proceedings  of  the  authorities  at  Eeynosa  in  resisting 
their  incursion  met  with  full  approval.  With  regard  to  the  at- 
tack at  the  Bolsa,  the  reason  for  doubting  whether  or  not  such 
permission  was  granted,  is  the  deposition  of  two  witnesses,  who 
state  that  they  saw  the  permission  granted  by  General 
Garcia  to  Captain  Ford,  permitting  him  to  cross  at  that  place. 
The  Commission  has  not  found  any  documents  confirming 
these  depositions,  although  this  is  not  strange,  on  account  of 
the  losses  which  the  archives  have  experienced.  But  in  any 
event,  such  a permit  is  not  a permission  to  rob,  murder  and 
burn  as  they  did  at  the  Bolsa.  What  is  fully  ascertained  is, 
that  in  April,  1860,  an  arrangement  was  made  with  the  Amer- 
ican commanding  ofiicer,  to  cross  a force  to  pursue  Cortina,  in 
company  with  the  Mexican  force  ; but  this  force  never  crossed. 
The  latest  acts  communicated  by  the  authorities  at  Matamoros 
concerning  these  aggressions,  state  that  a force  of  Americans 
were  encamped  opposite  the  Puerta  ranche,  which  force  in 
July  of  1860,  opened  fire  upon  the  latter  place,  to  drive  the 
inhabitants  away,  and  they  then  subsequently  crossed  several 
times,  and  stole  everything  that  they  found  there. 

These  invasions  have  two  phases.  For  the  party  directing 
them,  they  were  a means  of  keeping  alive  a feeling  of  alarm 
in  the  United  States,  by  making  it  appear  that  Cortina  was  in 
force,  and  that  the  Mexican  authorities  were  in  connivance 
with  him,  so  much  so,  that  it  appeared  necessary  to  invade 
Mexico  with  stronger  forces.  For  the  subalterns,  they  were  a 
means  of  gratifying  their  propensities  for  plunder.  These 
aggressions  were  stimulated,  and  even  defended  in  Texas. 
Governor  Houston,  in  his  communication  to  the  war  department 
of  the  12th  of  March,  1860,  sustained  the  necessity  of  the 
attack  on  the  Bolsa  ranche  ; thus  it  had  a character  eminently 
political.  Even  tolerance  with  regard  to  robbery  might  con- 
tribute toward  the  same  end  ; there  was  a hope  that  the 


198 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


exasperation  on  the  Mexican  frontier  ■would  reach  its  limit,  and 
produce  a conflict  attended  with  the  most  serious  consequences. 
With  the  exception  of  the  Bolsa,  Cortina  was  nowhere  met 
with,  nor  was  it  possible  that  he  should  be,  and  hence  this 
is  not  the  place  to  inquire  into  the  purpose  which  carried  the 
volunteers  over  the  Mexican  frontier.  They  crossed  at  the 
Mesa  where  they  thought  to  And  him,  and  attacked  a picket  of 
Mexican  soldiers ; after  they  were  undeceived,  or  made  it 
appear  that  they  were  undeceived,  instead  of  returning  to 
Texas,  they  visited  several  ranches  and  there  committed  the 
greatest  excesses.  They  subsequently  undertook  more  ex- 
tensive enterprises ; hitherto  they  had  only  invaded  ranches, 
they  now  attempted  to  invade  towns.  Upon  their  flrst  attempt, 
the  energetic  attitude  assumed  by  the  people  of  Reyuosa,  who 
were  resolved  to  punish  them  if  they  did  not  keep  themselves 
within  the  bounds  of  the  greatest  moderation,  restrained  them. 

If  in  fact  permission  was  given  to  the  volunteers  to  cross 
the  Bravo  at  the  Bolsa,  the  Commission  must  strongly 
condemn  such  a proceeding.  The  matter  in  question  was  a 
most  serious  one,  which  by  the  constitution  was  reserved  to 
the  Federal  authority  alone,  and  could  not  be  submitted  to 
the  judgment  of  an  inferior.  It  must  have  acted  as  a stimulus 
to  the  aggressors  to  continue  the  same  course  of  conduct  after- 
wards without  any  such  permission,  thereby  throwing  the 
greatest  obstacles  in  the  way  of  harmony  on  the  frontier. 

The  Confederate  war  was  the  cause  of  great  difficulties. 
The  Commission  has  previously  explained  the  organizations 
which  were  made  on  this  side  to  harass  the  Confederates  in 
Texas,  and  the  threats  which  these  made  to  cross  the  river. 
The  war  against  the  European  intervention  had  compelled  the 
concentration  of  all  the  elements  of  resistance  in  the  interior 
of  the  republic,  the  frontier  was  defenseless,  and  menaces  were 
the  consequence.  The  Commission  have  before  related  the 
occurrences  which  took  place  at  the  Clarano  ranche,  and  the 
robbery  of  a skiff  from  this  side  by  the  volunteers  ; these  imme- 
diately crossed  to  our  side  and  committed  several  robberies.. 
Shortly  after,  a Mexican  force  sent  by  the  municipality  of 
Guerrero  arrived,  and  while  upon  the  spot,  flfteen  volunteers 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


199 


again  attempted  to  cross  into  the  republic,  when  they  were 
fired  upon  and  compelled  to  return.  The  object  of  these  in- 
vasions was  robbery ; the  object  of  the  following  ones  was 
more  serious.  In  December  of  1862,  a troop  of  Mexican  Con- 
federates under  the  command  of  Captain  Refugio  Benavides, 
crossed  from  the  Texas  to  this  side,  pursued  Octaviano  Zapata, 
defeated  him  at  the  place  called  Mezquital  Lealeno,  and  then 
burnt  the  farm  of  Jesus  Vidal;  but  in  addition  to  all  this, 
there  was  a constant  state  of  alarm  upon  the  Mexican  side  of 
the  river,  on  account  of  the  continual  demonstrations  made  by 
various  parties  of  Confederates  to  invade  our  territory. 

The  authorities  at  Tamaulipas  endeavored  to  remedy  the 
situation,  but  it  is  easily  understood  that  every  means  would 
be  inefiicacious  without  the  necessary  physical  force.  In  Feb- 
ruary of  1863,  the  “jefe  politico  ” of  the  northern  district 
entered  into  an  arrangement  with  the  Confederate  authorities. 
The  principal  stipulation  with  regard  to  this  point,  referred  to 
mutual  assistance  to  be  given  by  the  Mexican  forces  to  those  of 
Texas,  for  the  pursuit  of  those  who,  from  the  Mexican  territory, 
might  attempt  to  cross  and  harass  on  the  Texas  side,  and  vice 
versa.  If  the  forces  of  one  State  were  found  to  be  insufficient, 
it  might  call  upon  the  other  State  for  assistance.  It  was  also 
further  arranged,  that  cattle  imported  from  Texas  to  Tamau- 
lipas should  be  accompanied  by  a permit  issued  by  the  Con- 
federate authorities,  that  in  the  absence  of  this  permit  it  should 
be  detained  until  it  was  ascertained  where  it  came  from,  and  in 
the  event  of  its  being  found  that  it  had  been  stolen,  it  should 
be  returned  to  the  Confederate  authorities.  The  Mexicans  took 
all  proper  measures  to  carry  out  this  part  of  the  arrangement 
in  good  faith. 

With  regard  to  the  first  clause,  its  intention  is  perfectly 
clear ; apparently,  an  alliance  had  been  entered  into,  but  in 
reality  it  was  a means  made  use  of  to  prevent  attacks  from  their 
frontier,  fixing  by  agreement  the  relations  between  the  two 
lines.  The  Confederates  would  not  permit  any  Mexican  forces 
to  cross  into  Texas,  because  they  were  suspicious  of  them. 
They  could  not  cross  into  Mexico  without  being  called  upon  by 
our  authorities  for  assistance,  which  they  certainly  would  not 


200 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


do,  because  they  were  endeavoring  to  prevent  those  aggres- 
sions ; at  first  sight  it  appears  as  though  great  concessions  were 
made,  when  in  reality  there  were  none. 

The  Confederates  soon  became  convinced  of  the  inefficiency 
of  these  arrangements,  because  they  continued  tlieir  hostilities. 
Under  the  pressure  which  was  being  brought  to  bear  on  the 
Mexican  frontier,  which  was  defenseless  against  the  menaces, 
without  means  of  resistance  on  account  of  the  war  against  the 
French  in  which  the  country  was  involved,  the  government  of 
Tamaulipas  endeavored  to  give  some  tranquility  to  the  popu- 
lation, and  for  this  purpose,  on  the  dth  of  March,  1863,  con- 
sented that  the  Texan  forces  might  cross  into  Mexico,  and  the 
Mexican  forces  into  Texas,  in  pursuit  of  robbers  or  Indians, 
without  further  requisite  than  notifying  the  nearest  authority. 
It  was  hoped  that  by  this  means  the  feeling  of  insecurity  which 
was  felt  upon  the  right  bank  of  the  Rio  Bravo  would  be  ter- 
minated, but  experience  soon  showed  that  no  concession  would 
satisfy  that  disorderly  people,  and  that  in  fact  force  was 
necessary  to  repel  their  aggressions.  It  is  probably  due  to  this, 
that  some  time  afterwards  a force  of  regular  Mexican  troops  were 
sent  to  the  line,  to  give  greater  security  to  its  inhabitants,  but 
before  this  was  done  there  had  been  a series  of  invasions. 

On  the  10th  of  March,  1863,  Encarnacion  Garcia,  a Con- 
federate soldier  belonging  to  the  company  under  the  command 
of  Captain  Santos  Benavides,  together  with  a sergeant,  crossed 
to  Monterey  Larado  drunk  ; he  attacked  the  Mexican  guard 
and  threatened  him  with  his  pistol,  in  consequence  of  which 
he  was  killed.  Immediately  thereupon  Santos  Benavides 
crossed  the  river,  invaded  Larado  with  fifty  or  sixty  men,  and 
peremptorily  demanded  that  the  alcalde  should  arrest  the  in- 
dividuals who  had  killed  Encarnacion  Garcia  and  immediately 
try  them.  The  Texan  soldiers  were  in  the  court  room,  grossly 
insulting  the  authorities  and  threatening  them  with  their  pistols. 
After  a length  of  time  the  invaders  returned  to  Texas. 

At  four  o’clock  on  the  morning  of  15th  March,  1863,  a 
force  of  Confederates  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Chilton, 
and  which  left  Brownsville,  crossed  from  Clarksville  to  Bag- 
dad. Colonel  Davis,  now  Governor  of  the  State  of  Texas, 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


201 


Captain  Montgomery  and  several  Union  Americans,  who  were 
to  sail  on  that  day  with  those  officers  in  a United  States  steamer 
for  Kew  Orleans,  were  at  the  last  named  town.  The  Confed- 
erates surprised  Bagdad.  Colonel  Davis  who  was  lodged  at 
the  custom  house,  was  the  first  one  made  prisoner,  and  imme- 
diately crossed  into  Texas;  Captain  Montgomery  arrived 
shortly  after  in  search  of  the  Colonel,  he  was  pursued  by  a 
group  of  the  Confederates  and  fired  upon  in  the  middle  of  the 
town.  The  rest  of  the  party  w'ere  in  pursuit  of  the  Union 
Americans  who  were  going  to  New  Orleans,  and  arrested  several 
of  them.  Some  of  the  invaders,  unable  to  resist  their  natural 
instincts  for  stealing,  robbed  several  houses  in  the  town  ; Cap- 
tain Montgomery  was  hung  upon  a tree  on  the  other  side. 
These  acts  produced  a profound  indignation  in  Mexico,  and 
threatened  a rupture. 

The  commanding  officer  at  Brownsville  ashamed,  perhaps, 
of  such  proceedings,  or  perhaps  from  the  appearance  of  an 
imminent  rupture  of  the  relations  existing  between  the  two 
sides  of  the  river — a rupture  which  would  have  been  of  great 
injury  to  the  Confederates  on  account  of  Matamoros  being  the 
point  of  transit  for  the  goods  with  which  Texas  was  supplied 
— to  the  complaints  made  by  the  government  of  the  State  of 
Tamaulipas  replied  by  setting  Colonel  Davis  and  the  other 
parties  arrested  at  liberty. 

On  the  23d  of  June,  1863,  some  Confederate  soldiers 
crossed  from  Texas  to  the  “Adjuntas  ranche,”  at  Guerrero,  in 
Mexico.  They  concealed  themselves  behind  the  fence  of  a cat- 
tle pen,  and  when  Jose  Maria  Salinas,  who  was  accused  of  be- 
longing to  Zapata’s  band,  passed  by  there,  they  fired  upon  him 
and  killed  him.  Octaviano  Zapata,  for  account  of  the  United 
States,  had  carried  on  hostilities  against  Texas,  and  when  he 
found  himself  pressed  he  took  refuge  on  our  frontier.  Some 
soldiers  of  the  garrison  at  Mier  revolted,  killed  their  officer 
and  joined  Zapata.  Another  force  which  was  in  pursuit  of 
them  had  a skirmish  with  this  latter.  The  officer  returned  to 
Mier  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  reinforcements,  but  in  the 
mean  time,  on  the  2d  of  September,  1863,  Santos  Benavides, 
the  Confederate  captain,  crossed  into  Mexico  at  Salinillas,  and 


202 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


d-efeated  Zapata,  and  killed  him  and  eight  of  his  companions. 
This  Confederate  force  did  not  cross  the  river  in  accordance 
even  with  the  agreement  made  in  March  previous,  it  failed 
even  to  notify  the  nearest  authority  which  was  at  Mier. 

The  last  species  of  invasions  comprises  those  whose  pur- 
poses have  been  to  exercise  an  intervention  in  the  internal  ques- 
tions of  the  coimtry.  A case  of  this  kind  presented  itself  on 
the  frontier  of  Tamaulipas.  In  August  of  1866,  the  garrison 
at  Matamoros  pronounced  and  proclaimed  Colonel  Servando 
Canales  governor  and  military  commandant  of  Tamaulipas. 
He  accepted  the  revolt  and  the  position  which  it  conferred. 
The  Supreme  Government  had  appointed  General  Santiago 
Tapia  to  the  command  of  that  State,  and  sent  forces  to  Mata- 
moros, whereupon  the  siege  was  begun.  Shortly  after  General 
Escobedo,  who  was  the  general  in  command  of  all,  arrived 
with  others.  On  the  23d  of  Jlovember,  of  the  same  year, 
General  Thomas  D.  Sedgwick,  the  officer  in  command  of  the 
district  of  Rio  Grande,  Texas,  addressed  a communication  to 
Colonel  Canales,  in  which  he  stated  that  he  had  been  informed 
that  he  had  notified  his  forces  that  it  would  be  impossible  for  him 
to  pay  them,  and  that  they  must  provide  for  themselves,  and  that 
inasmuch  as  the  neutrality  laws  of  the  United  States  had  been 
frequently  violated  of  late  by  Canales,  that  he  demanded  the  sur- 
render of  the  city  of  Matamoros  for  the  purpose  of  assuring  pro- 
tection to  life  and  property,  and  that  Colonel  J.  G.  Perkins  was 
commissioned  to  aiTange  the  preliminaries.  On  the  following 
day,  the  2Ith,  Colonel  Perkins  and  Colonel  Canales  stipulated 
that  the  life  of  this  latter,  his  liberty  and  property,  and  also  of  his 
forces  should  be  guaranteed,  as  also  that  of  the  people  residing 
in  the  city,  without  distinction  of  nationality  ; that  no  forces  ex- 
cept those  of  the  United  States  should  enter  the  town,  and  that 
Colonel  Canales  should  hold  his  positions.  On  the  same  day 
a pontoon  bridge  was  constructed  across  the  river ; a United 
States  force  crossed  to  Matamoros,  the  United  States  flag  was 
raised  on  the  parish  church,  and  Colonel  J.  G,  Perkins  issued 
his  general  order  Xo.  1,  taking  the  command  of  the  city  in  the 
name  of  the  United  States,  and  designating  the  persons  who 
were  to  compose  his  staftl  The  result  of  this  arrangement  and 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


203 


the  subsequent  measures  was  that  the  United  States  forces 
obliged  themselves  to  prevent  General  Escobedo’s  entrance 
into  the  city.  On  the  same  day  General  Sedgwick  addressed 
a communication  to  General  Escobedo  informing  him  of  what 
had  occurred,  and  that  he  would  hold  the  city  of  Matamoros 
until  both  he  and  Colonel  Canales  had  had  a conference,  for 
which  he  appointed  the  following  day. 

At  the  conference,  General  Escobedo  informed  General 
Sedgwick  that  it  would  be  impossible  for  him  to  enter  ifito  any 
arrangement,  the  base  of  which  was  not  a full  submission  of 
the  rebels.  The  American  officer  then  promised  to  allow  the 
former  full  liberty  of  action ; but  on  the  26th,  he  addressed 
him  a communication  stating  that  he  considered  it  to  be  his 
duty  to  hold  possession  of  the  city  until  receiving  further  in- 
structions from  General  Sheridan,  inasmuch  as  no  peaceable 
solution  had  been  arrived  at,  adding  that  he  wished  matters  to 
be  continued  in  the  same  condition  they  were. 

On  the  same  day.  General  Escobedo  demanded  the  evacua- 
tion of  the  city  by  General  Sedgwick,  when  the  latter  replied, 
that  his  views  were  for  the  protection  of  the  life  and  property 
of  the  people,  and  he  desired  that  a peaceable  arrange- 
ment should  be  made.  It  was  then  agreed,  that  during 
the  combat  a force  of  fifty  Americans  should  remain  in  the  cen- 
ter of  the  town  for  the  purpose  of  preventing  robberies  and 
disturbances,  and  the  remainder  withdraw,  leaving  a picket  at 
the  Garita  of  Santa  Cruz  to  protect  the  families  crossing  to 
Brownsville. 

The  city  was  attacked  on  the  twenty-seventh.  The  moment 
the  fortifications  were  attacked,  a United  States  officer  appeared 
with  a flag  for  parley,  notifying  General  Escobedo,  in  the  name 
of  the  United  States  officer  commanding  at  Matamoros,  that  in 
the  event  of  his  taking  any  of  the  fortifications,  that  he  was 
not  to  enter  into  the  interior  of  the  city,  and  that  he  was  to 
notify  the  latter  of  each  point  as  he  took  possession  of  it. 
Fearing  a conflict.  General  Escobedo  retired  within  his  posi- 
tions. 

New  explanations  were  entered  into,  when  General  Sedg- 
wick stated  that  there  had  been  mistakes  and  misunderstand- 


204 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


ings.  But  on  the  30th  of  November,  he  addressed  a communi- 
cation to  Colonel  Canales,  directing  him  to  surrender,  imposing 
as  conditions  that  the  forts  and  redoubts  should  be  delivered  up 
to  the  United  States  troops,  to  be  held  by  them,  that  Colonel 
Canales’  troops  should  concentrate  on  the  public  square  for  the 
surrender  and  delivering  up  of  their  arms,  and  that  Colonel 
Canales  with  his  officers  and  troops  should  be  held  as  prisoners 
of  war,  until  the  receipt  of  further  orders  from  the  United 
States  authorities.  He  further  required  an  answer  by  nine 
o’clock  on  the  morning  of  the  following  day. 

Colonel  Canales  preferred  to  surrender  to  General  Esco- 
bedo, and  did  so  on  the  night  of  the  30th  of  November,  when 
the  city  was  occupied  by  the  government  forces.  On  the  first 
of  December,  General  Sedgwick  was  informed  of  what  had 
occurred,  when  he  replied  that  he  had  given  orders  for  the 
evacuation  of  the  city  by  his  troops,  which  was  done. 

Although  it  does  not  appear  by  the  records,  it  is  well  known 
that  the  government  of  the  United  States  disapproved  of  Gen- 
eral Sedgwick’s  conduct,  and  relieved  him  from  his  command. 
It  is  not  improbable  that  General  Sedgwick’s  intentions  were 
to  favor  the  troops  of  the  republic,  by  bringing  a pressure  to 
bear  upon  those  in  the  town,  with  a view  of  compelling  them 
to  surrender  without  bloodshed.  If  this  was  so,  he  unquestion- 
ably did  not  select  the  best  course. 

The  Commission  in  the  course  of  this  report  have  examined 
proceedings,  some  of  which,  either  from  their  nature  or  by  rea- 
son of  the  parties  committing  them,  do  not  render  the  govern- 
ment of  the  country  where  they  originated  responsible.  "With 
regard  to  others,  even  though  they  may  have  created  such  re- 
sponsibility, it  cannot  be  asserted  in  the  present  condition  of 
the  arrangements  made  between  both  governments,  as  to 
claims.  However,  the  Commission  stated  at  the  commence- 
ment that  it  was  not  its  intention  to  present  charges  against 
the  United  States.  Its  principal  purpose  has  been  the  study  of 
the  relations  existing  between  both  frontiers  since  1848,  in 
order  that  the  spirit  of  these  being  understood,  the  political 
importance  of  the  question  of  cattle  stealing,  and  the  diversion 
which  the  people  of  Texas  have  sought  to  give  it,  being  also 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


205 


understood,  the  remedy  for  the  abnormal  condition  of  tliat  part 
of  the  country,  may  in  good  faith  be  sought. 

If  the  occurrences  which  have  just  been  related,  are  con- 
sidered in  connection  with  the  time  when  they  happened,  it 
will  be  remarked  that  from  1848  until  the  present  time,  all 
possible  difficulties  have  been  marring  the  relations  of  the  two 
lines. 

For  greater  clearness,  four  epochs  should  be  designated. 
That  which  elapsed  up  to  1858 ; that  wdiich  covers  the  time  of 
Cortina’s  revolt ; the  period  of  the  Confederate  war,  up  to 
1866  ; and  that  embraced  from  this  latter  year  up  to  the  pres- 
ent time.  Subsequent  to  1848  the  republic  was  exceedingly 
feeble,  its  debility  w'as  not  only  physical,  but  also  moral,  from  the 
continued  reverses  which  it  had  experienced  in  the  war  with  the 
United  States.  This  awoke  in  Texas  the  ambition  of  adven- 
turous spirits,  who  hoped  to  find  on  the  Mexican  frontier  a field 
for  the  exercise  of  their  activity.  It  was  then  that  the  idea  of 
the  Republic  of  the  Sierra  Madre  sprung  into  existence.  This 
was  the  first  step  for  extending  the  sovereignty  of  the  United 
States  over  all  the  Mexican  territory  embraced  between  the 
Rio  Bravo  and  the  passes  of  the  Sierra.  The  spirit  of  filibus- 
tering seized  the  idea,  and  the  successive  invasions,  up  to  the 
last  at  Piedras  Regras,  in  1855,  were  so  many  attempts  upon 
divers  pretexts  to  obtain  this  end.  As  late  as  1858,  attempts 
were  made  to  organize  expeditions  against  the  Mexican  fron- 
tier, but  these  attempts  were  frustrated,  because  probably  they 
had  become  convinced  that  private  enterprise  could  not  success- 
fully contend  against  the  republic,  and  the  population  on  the 
Mexican  line  were  opposed  to  it.  The  tactics  were  now  changed, 
and  the  attempt  w'as  made  to  involve  the  United  States  in  a 
war  of  conquest  against  Mexico ; Cortina’s  revolt,  in  1859  and 
1860,  alforded  the  first  opportunity  for  obtaining  it.  The 
Commission  has  stated  the  result  of  their  study  and  considera- 
tion of  these  facts.  It  is  there  shown,  that  the  people  residing 
on  the  left  bank  of  the  Bravo,  and  the  Texas  forces  in  the 
field,  did  their  best  to  bring  about  a conflict  between  the  two 
lines,  and  to  maintain  a constant  state  of  excitement  among 


206 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE, 


the  people  of  the  United  States.  It  is  there  shown  that  this 
course  of  conduct  was  sustained  by  the  government  of  Texas, 
and  that  upon  the  theory  of  preventing  the  organization  of 
parties  in  Mexico  for  robbing  the  Texas  line,  and  obtaining 
guaranties  against  such  aggressions,  a war  for  the  acquisition 
of  territory  was  in  fact  intended  ; the  government  of  the  United 
States  understood  what  was  meant,  and  their  labor  was  lost. 
Governor  Houston,  in  March  of  1860,  was  already  convinced 
of  the  impossibility  of  obtaining  his  purpose,  to  which,  and  the 
withdrawal  of  the  Texan  volunteers  from  the  margin  of  the 
Bravo,  is  to  be  attributed  that,  in  the  following  April,  the  con- 
flicts on  the  frontier  were  brought  to  a close.  The  Cortina 
question  had  flnished  some  months  before,  and  if  they  gave  it 
an  existence  in  Texas,  it  was  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  out 
political  plans  of  greater  magnitude. 

In  1861  the  Confederate  war  broke  out,  and  then  the  extent 
of  the  ill-feeling  entertained  on  the  Texas  frontier  towards  Mex- 
ico became  manifest.  The  Texans  upon  the  left  bank  were 
convinced  of  the  good  faith  which  governed  the  proceedings 
of  the  Mexican  authorities,  and  nevertheless  they  lost  no  op- 
portunity of  promoting  broils  and  bitter  discussions.  Their 
situation  did  not  permit  them  to  undertake  any  formal  enter- 
prises against  the  Mexican  frontier,  but  they  had  no  hesitation 
in  committing  the  greatest  outrages.  Tlie  invasion  of  Bagdad, 
for  the  pui-pose  of  arresting  ofiBcers  and  Union  soldiers,  who 
were  under  the  protection  of  neutral  territory,  carry  them  ofi" 
to  Texas,  and  thereupon  hang  Captain  Montgomery  to  a tree, 
is  an  act  which  merits  the  severest  criticism. 

At  that  time  the  Texans  went  as  far  as  they  could  under 
their  circumstances ; these  did  not  permit  them  to  take  posses- 
sion of  the  country,  but  they  proceeded  as  though  the  country 
in  question  was  not  a foreign  one.  The  spirit  prevailing  in  the 
first  filibustering  invasions,  and  the  one  which  guided  the 
policy  of  the  Texas  frontier  during  Cortina’s  revolt,  inspired 
them  with  an  utter  disregard  of  the  rights  and  sovereignty  of 
the  Mexican  Bepublic.  Subsequent  to  the  year  1866,  the 
question  of  the  Free  Zone  was  first  brought  forward.  It  was 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


207 


stated  that  it  was  the  cause  of  immense  smuggling  into  the 
United  States,  and  that  her  revenues  were  defrauded  thci’ehy 
of  millions ; the  necessity  of  taking  possession  of  the  Mexican 
territory  up  to  the  Sierra  Madre  was  defended  as  the  only 
means  of  preventing  contraband.  It  is  not  within  the  province 
of  this  Commission  to  examine  the  question  of  the  “Free 
Zone,”  but  it  having  been  presented  as  an  injury,  and  aground 
of  demoralization,  on  account  of  the  smuggling  to  which  it 
gives  room,  and  tlie  indirect  influence  which  it  exerts  in  the 
increase  of  crime,  it  is  impossible  to  pass  it  over  without  a few 
words  of  remark. 

During  the  years  immediately  following  1818,  smuggling 
became  one  of  the  most  serious  questions  in  connection  with 
the  frontier.  The  Commission  lias  already  referred  to  two 
cases,  in  which,  after  the  seizure  of  the  cargo  for  violation  of 
the  revenue  laws,  large  parties  of  armed  men  crossed  from  the 
American  to  the  Mexican  side,  attacked  the  custom  house 
guards,  recaptured  the  cargo,  and  again  crossed  it  to  the  Texas 
frontier,  where  the  parties  committing  these  illegal  acts  enjoyed 
every  immunity.  These  facts  furnish  us  with  tlie  measure  of 
the  situation  ; the  fact  that  suck  parties  could  be  gathered 
together  at  a moment’s  notice,  shows  to  what  extent  smug- 
gling to  the  injury  of  Mexico  was  organized,  to  what  extent  it 
was  protected  and  encouraged,  and  to  what  degree  demoraliz- 
ation prevailed. 

The  rising  of  1851  had  for  its  object  a commercial  reform, 
but  in  this,  as  in  its  political  aspect,  it  was  completely  per- 
verted. The  commercial  reforms  driveled  away  into  smuggling 
operations,  which  were  commenced  on  an  immense  scale,  and 
which  resulted  in  the  “ Avalos  ” tariff,  issued  by  the  command- 
ing officer  at  Matamoros.  By  it  prohibitions  were  removed, 
and  the  duties  reduced.  This  measure  was  most  efficacious  in 
counteracting  the  political  movement,  because  it  separated  from 
it  numerous  Mexicans  whose  national  sensibilities  had  been 
wounded  by  the  participation  in  the  revolt  of  Texans,  whose 
intentions  could  not  be  relied  upon  by  the  people  of  Mexico. 
That  revolution  was  thus  reduced  to  a war,  supported  and 


208 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


maintained  by  the  speculators  at  Brownsville,  for,  among  other 
purposes,  that  of  smuggling. 

The  moral,  social,  and  political  consequences  thus  produced 
are  easily  perceptible.  The  element  of  labor  being  founded 
upon  smuggling,  all  classes  on  both  frontiers  participated  more 
or  less  directly  in  it.  The  inducements  were  great  from  the 
profits  obtained,  but  the  demoralization  was  not  less.  The 
ruin  of  our  towns  was  notorious,  and  to  these  disasters  must  be 
added  that  of  a great  mass  of  the  population  on  both  margins 
of  the  river  accustoming  themselves  to  a life  of  hazard  and  ad- 
venture, ready  for  any  disturbance,  and  from  whence  mutiny 
and  crime  derived  their  principal  means  of  action.  All  this 
was  due  to  the  smuggling  which  was  organized  and  protected 
on  the  Texas  side.  The  remedy  for  these  evils  was  sought, 
and  the  “ Avalos  ” tariff  was  one  of  those  put  in  practice, 
but  it,  as  a war  measure,  could  be  but  temporary  in  its  exist- 
ence. A short  time  before,  the  idea  of  the  Free  Zone  had  been 
suggested,  which,  in  its  subsequent  development  and  applica- 
tion in  1858,  has  not  been,  as  the  residents  on  the  left  bank 
maintain,  a measure  adverse  to  the  United  States,  but  a defense 
against  the  invading  tendencies  of  the  Texan  side,  which  mani- 
fested themselves  in  the  enormous  smuggling  carried  on  to  the 
injury  of  our  government. 

The  Free  Zone,  by  drawing  business  to  the  frontier  of  Mex- 
ico, and  confining  it  to  certain  populous  districts,  has  made 
possible  the  exercise  of  a vigilance  which  was  before  impossible, 
because  the  whole  length  of  the  banks  of  the  Bravo  then  re- 
quired to  be  watched.  Smuggling  has  diminished  to  an  incal- 
culable degree,  which  will  not  be  doubted  by  anybody  who 
compare  the  moral  condition,  the  elements  of  honest  labor 
developed  at  present  in  those  towns,  and  the  products  of  their 
custom  houses,  with  tlie  relative  condition  of  these  same  points 
previous  to  the  establishment  of  the  Free  Zone. 

But  this,  as  a necessary  consequence,  attacked  the  illegiti- 
mate interests  created  by  smuggling  on  the  Texas  frontier.  It 
prevented  Brownsville  and  other  places  on  the  left  bank  from 
becoming  centers  for  the  smuggling  which  was  done  into  Mex- 
ico ; it  was  an  obstacle  in  the  way  of  unprincipled  speculators 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


209 


realizing  in  a short  time  an  immense  fortune  by  defrauding 
Mexico  and  spreading  demoralization.  All  these  interests 
which  had  been  destroyed  considered  that  they  had  been  in- 
jured when  a bar  was  placed  to  their  further  disorderly  pro- 
ceedings. Hereupon  they  endeavored  to  secure  the  support  of 
the  government  of  the  Hnited  States  for  their  immoral  pur- 
poses by  asserting  that  the  Free  Zone  was  an  act  of  hostile 
legislation  against  it  and  the  direct  cause  of  a great  contra- 
band across  our  frontier  into  Texas.  The  Commission  acknowl- 
edges that  this  contraband  has  existed,  but  of  how  little 
importance  is  shown  by  an  examination  of  the  scanty  popu- 
lation which  could  consume  it,  and  the  not  less  significant 
fact  that  most  of  the  goods  consumed  on  the  American 
frontier  are  of  American  production.  If  the  origin  of  this 
smuggling  is  considered,  it  will  be  found  that  its  cause  must  be 
sought  for  elsewhere,  and  not  in  the  “ Free  Zone,”  and  a proof  of 
this  fact  is,  that  although  the  trafli.c  is  constant,  smuggling  at 
certain  times  has  not  existed  at  all,  or  at  least  has  been  confined 
to  liquors  or  tobacco,  which  expert  swimmers  cross  during  the 
night. 

The  “ Free  Zone,”  thus  is  neither  by  its  origin  nor  present 
condition,  a measure  by  which  the  United  States  receives  any 
injury.  Nevertheless  the  people  on  the  Texas  bank  zealously 
maintained  the  contrary,  and  for  this  purpose  distorted  tlie 
facts  and  circumstances,  and  arrived  at  the  conclusion  that  the 
only  adequate  remedy  to  prevent  the  United  States  from  suf- 
fering on  account  of  the  contraband  which  was  carried  on  from 
Mexico  into  Texas,  was  to  take  possession  of  the  Mexican  ter- 
ritory lying  between  the  Bravo  and  the  Sierra.  Thus  did  the 
people  of  Texas  continue  what  they  had  previously  commenced 
in  the  Cortina  question,  and  what  they  subsequently  did  in  the 
question  of  cattle  stealing.  A real  fact,  simple  in  its  character 
and  circumstances,  ■was  distorted  to  create  an  artificial  question 
between  Mexico  and  the  United  States  for  the  purpose  of 
bringing  about  difiiculties,  the  solution  of  which  was  to  be 
found  in  a war  of  conquest. 

When  the  Texas  frontier  became  satisfied  that  the  question 
of  the  “ Free  Zone  ” would  not  produce  the  desired  effect,  they 

14 


210 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


brought  to  life  the  question  of  cattle  stealing.  This  explains 
the  reason  why  since  1870  they  resorted  to  complaints  upon 
rthis  point,  notwithstanding  that  cattle  stealing  has  existed  since 
1862,  and  that  previous  to  1870  it  was  committed  to  a much 
greater  extent. 

The  petition  to  the  legislature  of  Texas,  in  1871,  for  General 
Cortina’s  pardon  excited  passions  of  another  kind,  and  these 
passions  were  an  auxiliary  for  those  purposes.  From  an  of- 
fense of  a common  nature,  such  as  is  simple  cattle  stealing, 
which  only  demands  the  ordinary  action  of  the  tribunals,  a 
question  of  great  political  importance  was  made.  It  was  not 
an  interest  to  suppress  robbery  and  demoralization  that  guided 
‘the  people  of  Texas,  because  they  have  shown  the  contrary 
•by  the  tolerance  and,  in  certain  cases,  protection,  afforded 
by  them  to  cattle  stealing  committed  in  Mexico,  although 
this  maintains  a state  of  disorganization  in  which  they  have  to 
bear  their  share.  A concerted  and  harmonious  action  between 
the  authorities  on  both  banks  to  pursue  the  ci’ime,  independent 
of  the  frontier  where  it  may  have  been  committed,  would  have 
been  quite  sufficient ; but  this  concert  was  avoided  in  order 
that  a conflict  and  an  uproar  might  be  produced. 

The  question  of  cattle  stealing  under  a political  aspect  is 
merely  artificial,  and  is  of  no  importance  except  as  a pretext. 
In  the  same  manner  as  in  the  Cortina  question  in  1860  and 
that  of  the  “ Free  Zone,”  in  1868  and  1869,  it  has  served  to 
sustain  the  necessity  of  the  United  States  taking  possession  of 
the  territory  embraced  between  the  Bravo  and  the  Nueces 
rivers.  The  political  theory  upon  which  this  necessity  is  made 
to  rest  is  that  the  Bravo  river  is  not  a boundary  which  protects 
the  United  States  against  marauding  Mexicans  and  Indians, 
and  hence  that  it  is  indispensable  that  the  boundary  be  extend- 
ed to  the  Sierra  Mad  re.  This  is  the  reason  why  there  has  been 
so  much  interest  in  maintaining  that  the  robberies  and  all 
kinds  of  crime  in  Texas  are  committed  by  bands  organized  in 
Mexico.  Hence  it  is  that  the  urgency  of  “ guaranties  for  the 
future  ” is  proclaimed,  and  hence  it  is  also  that  these  guaranties 
seek  an  acquisition  of  territory. 

The  Commission  have  obtained  various  Texas  newspapers, 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


211 


in  which  are  contained  articles  showing  the  political  character 
stamped  upon  the  question  of  cattle  stealing.  An  extract  from 
one  of  them  is  sufficient. — The  Brownsville  Sentinel^  Novem- 
ber 3d,  1872,  Our  Boundary. 

The  article  commences  by  copying  the  resolutions  sirbmitted 
in  the  United  States  Senate,  on  the  28th  of  February,  1848, 
by  General  Samuel  Houston,  as  an  amendment  to  the  treaty  of 
Guadalupe: 

“ That  the  dividing  line  should  start  one  league  south  of 
Tampico,  in  a straiglit  line  to  the  south  of  San  Luis  Potosi, 
thence  to  the  Sierra  Madre,  and  following  the  25th  parallel  to 
the  east  coast  of  lower  California,  this  and  the  islands  in  the 
Pacific  to  be  embraced  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States.” 

It  adds,  that  General  Taylor  during  the  war  recommended 
the  Sierra  Madre  as  the  most  desirable  for  the  dividing  line  be- 
tween the  two  countries.  It  also  explains  the  causes  which 
probably  influenced  the  selection  of  the  Rio  Grande  as  the  di- 
viding line.  Alluding  to  General  Houston  and  his  action  in 
the  Senate  to  change  the  dividing  line,  it  says: 

“He  supported  the  resolutions  presented  by  him  for  this 
purpose,  by  many  reasons  full  of  force  and  worthy  of  a states- 
man. He  had  witnessed  the  inefficiency  of  the  Rio  Grande  ; 
the  difficulty  of  defending  it;  the  facility  with  which  it  could 
be  crossed  in  spite  of  all  precautions,  and  the  consequent  inse- 
curity which  would  result  to  ourselves,  if  Mexico  reached  the 
state  of  demoralization  which  he  predicted.  His  efforts  for  the 
passage  of  an  act  establishing  a protectorate  in  Mexico,  which 
was  his  ardent  desire,  the  result  of  his  profound  foresight,  his 
solicitude  for  the  welfare  of  Texas,  and  the  protection  of  the 
inhabitants  on  the  frontier — ” 

This  same  paper  referring  to  the  causes  which  gave  rise  to 
its  article,  states : 

“ Cortina’s  invasion  of  1859  and  1860  ; the  continuance  of 
this  war  of  depredation  which  with  some  short  intervals  has 
lasted  for  thirteen  years ; the  great  loss  of  life  and  property 
experienced  by  the  people  of  Texas;  the  operations  organized 
in  Mexico  by  the  Kickapoos  and  other  tribes  of  Indians,  and 
those  by  Mexican  citizens,  and  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  the 
Mexican  army,  show  the  feeling  of  insecurity  which  has  pre- 


212 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


vailed  among  the  inhabitants  of  the  Rio  Grande  and  the 
Nueces,  as  well  as  those  living  upon  the  hanks  of  the  tributaries 
of  this  latter  river,  a feeling  which  has  retarded  the  settlement 
of  the  country,  the  development  of  its  resources  and  much 
other  important  business,  thus  tending  to  draw  attention  to  the 
line  of  the  Rio  Grande,  and  create  the  opinion  that  it  is  an  un- 
safe line  between  the  United  States  and  Mexico.” 

It  continues  by  saying  that  this  demands  a change.  That 
both  governments  have  sent  Commissioners  to  inquire  into  the 
difficulties  on  the  frontier.  That  the  United  States  Commis- 
sion have  gathered  together  a mass  of  undeniable  proofs, 
which  show  a criminal  neglect  of  its  duty  on  the  part  of  the 
Mexican  Government,  and  connivance,  on  the  part  of  its  agents 
or  employees,  in  the  piratical  acts  upon  the  people  of  the 
United  States.  That  the  weakness  of  the  Mexican  Govern- 
ment renders  it  impossible  for  it  to  guarantee  the  future,  how- 
ever good  its  intentions  may  be.  That  two  plans  had  been 
proposed  as  a remedy  for  the  situation,  the  first  of  which  was 
a treaty  permitting  the  troops  of  either  government  to  cross  the 
Rio  Grande  in  pursuit  of  the  guilty  persons  or  parties.  That 
this  plan  was  unacceptable  because  it  might  give  rise  to  seri- 
ous conflicts.  The  following  explanation  was  given  with  re- 
gard to  the  second  plan  : 

“ Make  the  Sierra  Madre  the  dividing  line,  and  thus  protect 
the  settlers  in  Western  Texas ; accept  compensation  for  the  past, 
and  give  certain  fixed  and  irrevocoMe  security  for  the  future^ 

The  question  of  cattle  stealing  presents  two  aspects.  In 
the  one  which  may  be  called  its  personal  aspect,  there  is  an 
attempt  made  by  a greater  or  less  body  of  people  for  the 
purpose  of  committing  an  act  of  expoiliation,  to  the  injury  of 
the  Mexican  Republic,  and  to  obtain  the  support  of  the 
government  of  the  United  States,  toward  those  improper 
designs.  This  is  called  “ compensation  for  the  past.’’’’  In  its 
political  aspect,  it  is  an  effort  to  carry  out  the  projects  which 
were  conceived  in  1848,  and  the  realization  of  which  was 
at  first  attempted  by  means  of  filibustering  undertakings,  and 
subsequently,  when  these  failed,  by  endeavoring  to  involve 
Mexico  in  a war  with  the  United  States.  This  is  called  “ Guar- 
anties for  thefuture^ 


NORTHERN'  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


213 


From  the  moment  in  which  cattle  stealing  ceases  to  be  the 
question,  and  becomes  the  pretext,  as  other  previous  acts  have 
been,  the  supposition  is  not  improbable  that,  for  some  time  to 
come,  and  until  there  is  an' increase  in  the  population  and  strong 
ties  of  material  interests  between  the  two  frontiers,  difficulties 
of  a more  or  less  serious  nature,  incited  and  exaggerated 
by  the  present  residents  upon  the  left  bank  of  the  Bravo  river, 
will  be  brought  to  notice. 

Both  frontiers  are  thus,  for  both  nations,  places  of  the 
greatest  importance.  The  difficulties  arising  there  are  generally 
artificial,  due  to  trifling  causes  for  the  settlement  of  which, 
in  a majority  of  eases,  it  would  be  sufficient  that  the  military 
command  of  the  frontier  should  be  in  charge  of  persons  of 
sound  judgment.  With  regard  to  Mexico,  the  Commission  is 
of  opinion  that  the  military  command  of  the  frontier  of  the 
Eastern  States  is  a position  of  great  responsibility,  and  to 
which  should  be  attached  all  the  importance  to  which  it  is 
entitled,  because  in  all  probability,  if  serious  complications 
should  at  any  time  arise  with  the  United  States,  their  origin 
will  be  here. 


XVIII. 

It  is  impossible  to  deny  that  since  1848  the  stealing  of  horses 
has  been  carried  on  in  Mexico,  for  the  purpose  of  carrying 
them  into  Texas  and  selling  them  there.  It  must  also  be  ad- 
mitted, that  since  1862  cattle  have  been  stolen  in  Texas,  taken 
into  Mexico,  and  sold  there,  but  it  is  not  true  that  this  has  been 
carried  on  to  the  extent  alleged  by  the  complainants  in  Texas  ; 
there  is  no  doubt,  however,  about  the  fact.  This  is  not  a polit- 
ical question  within  the  meaning  given  to  it;  it  has  no  such 
character  as  the  complainants  have  endeavored  to  invest  it 
with ; nevertheless,  both  governments  are  certainly  interested 
in  regulating  the  condition  of  their  respective  frontiers.  With 
regard  to  the  cattle  stealing,  the  remedy  is  with  the  police  and 
the  courts,  and  consequently  it  is  to  the  interests  of  both  gov- 
ernments that  these  should  produce  their  proper  fruits. 

The  Commission  have  had  an  opportunity  of  observing  the 


214: 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


inefficiency  of  the  local  authorities  on  both  frontiers.  The  Mexi- 
can authorities  do  not  possess  sufficient  means  of  action,  while 
the  disorganization  of  those  of  the  United  States  is  notorious. 
The  evil  is  greater  between  the  Bravo  and  Nueces  rivers,  by 
reason  of  the  want  of  large  towns.  Furthermore,  upon  both 
lines  the  authorities  are  elective  ; at  times  honest  men  may  be 
elected,  but  at  others,  corrupt  ones  may  be.  These  reasons 
show  the  necessity  of  extending  the  action  qf  the  federal  author- 
ities as  far  as  possible,  or  the  laws  will  consent. 

As  a consequence  of  these  facts,  and  without  prejudice  to 
the  action  of  the  local  authorities,  it  is  desirable  that  a federal 
force  should  be  detailed,  sufficient  to  watch  all  the  frontier 
from  Matainoros  to  Piedras  Negras;  but  in  order  that  this 
force  should  answer  its  purpose,  it  ought  to  be  composed  of 
two  elements,  men  of  the  regular  army,  and  a federal  police, 
auxiliary  to  and  under  the  command  of  the  former. 

The  regular  army  by  itself  is  insufficient,  because  it  is  im- 
possible to  exercise  due  vigilance,  and  efficiently  pursue  the 
criminals  without  possessing  a full  topographical  knowledge  of 
the  country,  of  the  places  where  robbery  is  most  easily  com- 
mitted, of  the  fords  of  the  river  most  frequented  by  cattle 
stealers,  and  of  the  parties  engaged  in  such  crime.  Criminals 
driving  stolen  cattle  do  not  travel  on  the  highways ; it  is  not 
there  they  are  to  be  sought  for,  or  pursued,  and  hence  the  pro- 
priety of  a federal  police  composed  of  honest  men  belonging  to 
the  place,  and  who  would  be  an  auxiliary  to  the  regular  troops. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  call  attention  to  the  great  care  wdiich 
should  be  used  by  the  officers  commissioned  to  organize  this 
police,  in  the  selection  of  the  elements  of  which  it  is  to  be  com- 
posed, as  otherwise  it  would  produce  a contrary  effect.  This 
force  does  not  require  to  be  numerous  if  it  be  well  organized ; 
its  results  should  be  anticipated  rather  from  the  nature  of  its 
elements  than  from  its  numbers.  As  a regulation  of  great  im- 
portance, the  Commission  would  suggest  that  this  police  use  no 
distinctive  uniform  whatever,  as  this  would  serve  as  a notice  to 
the  criminals  whom  they  are  to  persecute. 

The  regular  force  and  the  police  should  render  their  services 
in  such  manner  as  to  be  a means  of  real  protection  to  all  citi- 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


215 


zens  against  the  robbers.  When  the  proprietors  upon  the 
frontier  become  satisfied  that  the}^  are  sufficiently  protected, 
they  will  become  powerful  auxiliaries  in  the  persecution  of 
the  robbers.  If  at  present  they  show  indifference,  it  is 
owing  to  the  fact  that  they  have  no  protection  on  either  fron- 
tier ; they  are  compelled  to  tolerate  the  criminals  and  be  silent 
as  to  their  offenses,  because  the  authorities  furnish  them  no 
means  of  defense.  The  nature  and  organization  of  the  service 
are  matters  with  which  the  Commission  are  not  acquainted,  and 
belong  to  the  military.  Nevertheless  it  is  impossible  to  leave 
unremarked  that  upon  both  banks  of  the  Bravo  river  there  are 
ranches,  several  of  which  have  become  noted  as  the  hiding 
places  of  robbers,  and  that  it  is  certain  that  those  upon  one 
bank  are  in  connivance  with  those  upon  the  other.  In  order 
that  the  service  be  efficient,  it  is  necessary  to  make  a special, 
investigation  as  to  the  ranches  on  either  side  at  or  near  whicb 
detachments  should  be  placed.  Harmonious  action  upon 
the  part  of  the  military  authorities  ^vould  produce  the  happiest 
i-esults  in  this  connection.  It  is  unnecessary  to  remark  that 
it  is  not  desirable  that  a force  should  remain  too  great  a length 
of  time  at  one  place  ; on  the  contrary,  it  should  be  frequently 
moved  as  a means  of  preserving  discipline.  A second  train, 
of  measures  necessary  for  the  suppression  of  cattle  stealing,, 
is  one  whicb  would  lead  to  an  expeditious  action  on  the 
part  of  the  courts.  Although  the  Commission  deems  it  very 
advantageous  to  carry  this  class  of  cases  before  the  federal 
courts  on  both  frontiers,  as  being  more  independent  in  their 
action  and  freer  from  the  local  influences  arising  out  of  elec- 
tions, it  has  to  confess  that,  with  regard  to  Mexico,  it  has  found 
no  means  to  this  end  compatible  with  the  Constitution  ; it  does 
not  know  whether  there  may  be  any  such  means  in  the  United 
States. 

The  suppression  of  all  kinds  of  expenses,  in  the  form  of 
fees  to  the  public  employees  or  any  others,  is  a matter  of  neces- 
sity. The  legislation  of  the  frontier  States  of  both  nations 
should  tend  to  facilitate  the  pei'secution  of  cattle  stealers  and 
cattle  stealing,  without  regard  to  the  place  where  the  offense 
may  have  been  committed.  Measures  of  this  nature  are  for 


216 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


their  own  protection.  For  this  purpose,  and  witli  a view'  of 
converting  individual  action  into  an  auxiliary  of  the  authori- 
ties, every  possible  facility  should  be  otfered  to  such  action. 
With  regard  to  Mexico,  no  charge  is  made,  all  is  gratuitous  ; 
hut  in  Texas  the  necessity  exists  of  abolishing  the  fees  paid 
to  tlie  sheriff  and  the  courts.  The  propriety  of  a simple 
proof  is  indicated,  in  order  to  avoid  as  far  as  possible  the 
assistance  of  a lawyer.  In  Mexico  it  has  been  the  practice  to 
require  the  proof  of  presenting  the  brand,  because  it  establishes 
a presumption  of  ownership.  This  throws  upon  the  possessor 
of  it  the  necessity  of  proving  that  it  was  lawfully  acquired. 
These  provisions  are  substantially  the  same  as  those  contained 
in  the  first  section  of  the  laws  of  Texas,  passed  on  the  13^th 
Isovember,  1866,  but  there  is  this  difference,  that  this  latter 
-confines  itself  to  Texas  cattle.  It  is  not  extended  to  cattle 
stolen  in  Mexico  and  carried  into  the  United  States,  while  the 
courts  in  Mexico  have  applied  the  principle  to  cattle  brought 
from  Texas. 

In  Texas  the  proof  by  the  brand,  with  regard  to  horses 
stolen  in  Mexico,  is  not  sufficient,  further  proofs  are  required. 
The  Commission  suggests  the  propriety  of  the  first  section  of 
the  law  of  Texas  of  1866,  being  made  to  extend  to  both  fron- 
tiers, for  animals  stolen  on  either  side.  If  this  was  done,  the 
proof  of  the  brand  upon  the  part  of  the  plaintifl’,  and  the 
want  of  a bill  of  a sale  in  the  possession  of  the  defendant, 
would  ?imount  to  a presumption,  or  as  called  in  law,  a primo, 
facie  ” proof  of  an  unlawful  possession  of  the  animals.  Some 
measure  of  this  kind  is  indispensable,  both  for  the  purpose 
of  facilitating  the  recovery  of  the  stolen  property  by  its  ownei*s, 
as  well  as  to  place  within  the  reach  of  the  courts  the  same 
means  of  investigation  used  by  private  parties. 

The  Commission  has  elsew'here  remarked  that  cattle  stealing 
is  generally  accompanied  by  smuggling,  so  that  there  are  two 
offenses  coming  under  difi'erent  jurisdibtions,  and  very  different 
in  their  results.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  original  of- 
fense is  stealing,  and  that  the  smuggling  can  w'ork  no  prejudice 
to  the  ow’ner  of  the  property,  who  is  innocent,  and  that  hence 
it  is  simply  a matter  of  robbery,  and  should  be  so  tried  for  the 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


217 


purpose  of  returning  the  property  stolen  to  its  owner.  The 
Mexican  authorities  have  taken  this  view  of  the  matter,  and 
the  custom-house  employees  have  placed  the  cattle  thus  smug- 
gled at  the  disposal  of  the  local  judges.  In  only  one  single 
case  of  those  which  came  under  the  observation  of  the  Com- 
mission, was  the  matter  referred  to  the  federal  judge. 

In  the  United  States,  smuggling  always  determines  the 
nature  of  the  suit.  A case  has  occurred,  for  instance,  of  the 
owner  pursuing  horses  and  mules  which  had  been  stolen  from 
him,  and  after  having  found  and  recovered  them,  in  a suit  be- 
fore the  courts  of  Texas,  he  has  been  compelled  to  defend 
another  suit  on  account  of  the  contraband  committed  by  the 
thieves.  The  owner  certainly  cannot  be  prevented  from  ap- 
pearing and  claiming  his  property,  and  although,  notwithstand- 
ing the  smuggling,  it  is  returned  to  him  if  he  proves  his  prop- 
erty, this  result  is  only  reached  after  unnecessary  annoyance. 

With  regard  to  Mexico,  the  question  is  easily  decided. 
Cattle  pay  no  importation  duties,  so  that  if  they  are  clandestinely 
imported,  there  are  grounds  to  presume  that  theft  and  not 
smuggling  is  the  cause  of  the  secrecy.  This  presumption  should 
be  held  as  the  basis  of  the  legislation  to  be  made  upon  the 
subject. 

With  regard  to  the  United  States,  the  subject  presents  more 
difficulties.  Horses,  mares  and  mules  are  subject  to  importa- 
tion duties.  The  clandestine  importation  thus  may  be  by  rea- 
son of  robbery,  or  for  the  purpose  of  defrauding  the, govern- 
ment of  the  duties.  These  two  presumptions  then  are  present, 
but  as  the  Commission  is  not  sufficiently  acquainted  with  the 
laws  of  the  United  States  to  give  an  opinion,  as  to  the  means 
adequate  for  the  protection  of  the  owners  on  this  side  against 
the  vexations  of  a suit,  it  confines  itself  to  stating  that  that 
legislation  is  imperfect,  because  it  does  not  keep  in  view  the 
peculiar  circumstances  of  the  frontier. 

These  various  measures  are  intended  to  protect  the  rights 
of  the  owners,  by  removing  all  the  obstacles  in  the  way  of  the 
recovery  of  their  property  at  the  least  possible  cost.  Hot  only 
morally  speaking,  but  as  a matter  for  their  own  benefit,  the 
Federal  and  State  authorities  should  make  such  laws  as  would 


218 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


establish  easy  and  simple  means  for  the  protection  of  the  rights 
of  the  owner  and  the  punishment  of  the  crime.  The  laws 
of  Texas  which  punish  the  crime  of  stealing,  when  committed 
outside  of  its  territory  and  the  stolen  property  is  carried  within 
its  limits,  as  also  conspiracies  for  crime  to  be  committed  outside 
of  its  limits,  are  worthy  of  special  mention,  and  leave  nothing 
to  be  desired  with  regard  to  the  matter.  If,  in  Mexico,  the 
laws  are  properly  applied,  no  others  are  necessary.  The  party 
committing  a robbery  in  Texas,  and  bringing  the  stolen  prop- 
erty into  Mexico  for  the  purpose  of  sale,  is  guilty  of  a crime 
continued  {de  tracto  succesivo)^  and  subject  to  punishment. 
Also  those  who  conspire  to  commit  crimes,  although  not  to  be 
committed  on  our  frontier,  are  from  the  simple  act  guilty.  The 
Mexican  courts  have  applied  these  principles,  without  the  neces- 
sity of  a special  legislation,  to  such  cases  as  have  occurred,  and 
at  times  have  even  gone  farther.  On  the  eighth  of  May,  1863, 
while  the  town  of  Mier  was  temporarily  annexed  to  the  State 
of  Nuevo  Leon,  the  government  of  tliat  State  ordered,  that  when 
the  residents  of  that  town  were  guilty  of  crime  or  disorderly  con- 
duct in  the  United  States,  and  did  not  denjur  to  the  jurisdiction 
of  Mexico,  upon  complaint  being  made  against  them,  that  they 
should  be  tried  by  the  State  authorities. 

This  latter  practice  has  never  come  into  general  use,  and  its 
propriety  may  be  doubted,  on  account  of  the  risk  incurred  by 
the  accused  party,  in  being  tried  at  a different  place  from 
where  the  occurrences  took  place,  and  wdiere  it  would  be  easier 
for  him  to  establish  his  innocence.  With  regard  to  the  former, 
there  is  no  doubt  as  to  its  necessity,  and,  in  the  judgment  of  the 
Commission,  it  is  expedient  that  such  laws  be  made  the  subject 
of  special  legislation.  The  reasons  which  govern  tliis  judgment 
are,  that  doubts  have  been  expressed  as  to  the  application  of 
those  legal  principles  to  crimes  committed  in  Texas,  although 
such  doubts  are  groundless,  because  in  one  case  the  crime  is 
initiated,  and  in  the  other  consummated  in  Mexico.  Nev- 
ertheless, it  is  desirable  to  remove  all  doubt,  in  order  that 
there  may  never  be  any  difficulty,  when  there  is  an  object  in 
making  one,  for  the  punishment  of  criminals.  The  extent  of 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


219 


the  penalty  attached  to  cattle  stealing  in  the  State  of  Texas, 
leaves  nothing  to  be  desired  in  this  respect.  Horse  stealing, 
although  it  may  be  only  of  a single  one,  is  punished  by  five  to 
fifteen  years  in  the  penitentiary,  and  cattle  by  two  to  five  years. 

A reform  is  required  in  tliis  particular  in  the  laws  of  the 
frontier  States.  The  law  of  the  5th  of  January,  which  is  in 
operation  in  those  States,  affixes  the  penalty  in  proportion  to 
the  amount  of  the  theft,  the  result  of  which  is,  that  the  penalty 
for  cattle  stealing  is  very  slight.  It  frequently  occurs  that 
cattle  stealers  are  only  punished  by  four  or  six  months  in  the 
chain  gang,  upon  the  conclusion  of  which  they  are  set  at 
liberty  to  again  continue  their  career  of  robbery ; the  im- 
propriety of  this  has  been  already  remarked  by  other  persons. 
Lawyer  Trinidad  Garza  Melo,  in  his  notes  for  the  criminal 
statistics  of  Nuevo  Leon,  in  referring  to  this  same  question 
stated  : 

“ The  same  cannot  be  said  with  regard  to  the  penalty 
attached  to  cattle  stealing,  by  the  said  law  of  the  5th  of 
January.  The  penalty  attached  to  cattle  stealing  is  not 
sufficient  to  suppress  this  crime  in  the  State  according  to  that 
law  ; that  which  might  be  proper  and  sufficient  in  the  States  of 
the  interior,  is  not  so  in  Nuevo  Leon,  nor  do  I believe  it  can 
be  so  in  any  frontier  State.” 

He  continues  by  explaining  the  causes  of  the  frequency  of 
cattle  stealing,  and  which  have  been  enumerated  elsewhere  by 
the  Commission,  and  continues  by  saying : 

“ Since  the  causes  which  make  cattle  stealing  profitable,  or 
render  its  commission  easy,  cannot  be  removed  or  directly  in- 
fluenced, it  is  necessary  that  the  cattle  stealers  should  be  more 
severely  punished.  Cattle  stealing,  which  in  itself  is  serious  on 
account  of  the  abuse  of  the  public  confidence,  in  whose  custody 
the  cattle  in  the  fields  are,  is  also  so  by  reason  of  the  serious 
losses  inflicted  by  them  upon  the  stock  raisers ; those  who  re- 
quire them  for  their  business,  and  especially  to  the  wagon 
trains  on  the  road,  the  theft  of  some  of  whose  mules  makes  it  a 
matter  of  impossibility  for  them  to  continue  their  journey,  and 
this  naturally  becomes  the  source  of  great  losses  to  the  mer- 
chants, consignees  of  the  goods  whicli  they  are  transporting. 
It  does  not  thus  appear  that  the  parties  committing  a crime, 


320 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


attended  with  such  serious  consequences,  are  properly  punished 
by  the  same  penalty  affixed  to  a simple  larceny,  even  though 
this  penalty  be  doubled  as  to  the  time  in  the  chain  gang,  as 
directed  by  the  law  of  the  5th  of  February.  The  penalty  of 
the  larceny  being  made  by  this  law  commensurate  with  the 
value  of  the  property  stolen,  it  rarely  occurs  that  at  the  time  of 
conviction  in  cases  of  cattle  stealing,  the  penalty  can  exceed 
one  year,  because  the  law  does  not  sanction  it,  which,  as  I said 
before,  was  giv^en  in  1857  for  all  the  republic.  Though  this 
law  with  regard  to  cattle  stealing  may  be  proper  and  sufficient 
in  the  interior  States,  it  is  not  so  in  Nuevo  Leon,  which  by  its 
topographical  position  is,  as  are  the  other  frontier  States,  under 
very  different  circumstances,  and  offer  greater  facilities  and 
more  certain  profits  to  cattle  thieves. 

“ Hence  it  is  necessary  that,  in  such  cases,  the  State  should 
make  a law  attaching  heavier  penalties  than  those  which  are 
now  imposed,  according  to  the  law  of  the  5th  of  January,  1857, 
referred  to.” 

The  punishment  of  the  purchasers  of  animals  stolen  on 
either  frontier  should  be  made  the  object  of  a law.  At  times 
there  have  been  applied  in  Mexico,  to  parties  purchasing  cattle 
stolen  in  the  United  States,  the  provisions  with  regard  to  the 
receivers  of  stolen  property,  but  this,  neither  by  reason  of  the 
time  or  place,  has  been  the  general  practice.  Nevertheless,  it 
is  from  this  class  of  dealers  that  the  crime  receives  the  most 
encouragement,  and  in  the  judgment  of  the  Commission  they 
should  be  most  severely  punished.  It  will  be  impossible  radi- 
cally to  remedy  this,  so  long  as  there  may  be  persons,  in  any  of 
the  frontier  States  of  Mexico  or  the  United  States,  who  pur- 
chase with  impunity  the  proceeds  of  the  raid  made  upon  the 
other  nation. 

As  a preventive,  and  in  order  to  facilitate  the  action  of  the 
courts,  the  Commission  deem  it  desirable  that  the  extradition 
treaty  should  be  amended  in  various  points.  This  treaty  is, 
and  has  been  wholly  inefficacious,  because  it  is  not  adapted  to 
the  circumstances  of  the  frontier.  In  the  opinion  of  the  Com- 
mission, it  requires  the  following  amendments  and  additions. 

First.  Extradition  should  be  applicable  to  the  crime  of 
cattle  stealing,  whatever  may  be  the  amount  stolen,  and  even 
though  it  did  not  amount  to  twenty-five  dollars,  repealing  the 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


221 


last  part  of  the  third  article  of  the  treaty.  The  facility  of  com- 
mitting this  crime,  and  the  difficulty  of  discovering  it,  show 
the  propriety  of  allowing  no  opportunity  to  pass  of  punishing 
it,  and  for  this  purpose  every  means  should  be  facilitated 
which  leads  to  this  end.  Furthermore,  in  the  frontier  States 
the  extent  of  this  crime  should  not  be  measured  by  the  value 
of  the  stolen  property,  either  with  regard  to  extradition  or  its 
punishment.  Cattle  stealing  is  governed  by  special  and  easily 
perceptible  considerations,  if  the  recent  difficulties  are  remem- 
bered. 

Second.  The  extradition  of  deserters  in  active  service  be- 
longing to  the  garrisons  on  the  frontier,  within,  for  example, 
say  twenty  leagues  of  the  dividing  line,  appears  also  to  be  a 
necessity.  The  deserters  from  the  Mexican  army  take  refuge 
in  Texas,  where,  not  finding  means  of  employment,  they  em- 
bark in  crime,  and  increase  that  floating  mass  of  criminals  so 
prejudicial  to  both  frontiers.  Such  an  emigration  cannot  be 
desirable  to  Texas ; on  the  contrary  it  contributes  to  her 
insecurity. 

Third.  The  Commission  consider  the  principle  worthy  of 
consideration  that  the  citizens  of  either  of  the  two  nations 
who,  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  other,  exercise  some  polit- 
ical rights,  and  thereby  commit  an  ofiense,  are  subject  to  ex- 
tradition. Tlie  latter  part  of  tlie  sixth  article  of  the  treaty 
provides  that  neither  of  the  two  contractmg  parties  shall  be  com- 
pelled to  extradite  their  own  citizens.  It  has  frequently  occurred 
that  Mexicans  by  birth  and  nationality  have  participated  in 
the  elections  in  Texas,  and  have  thus  perpetrated  an  offense 
there,  and  then  sought  refuge  in  Mexico.  The  fact  of  voting 
at  elections  does  not  deprive  them  of  their  Mexican  citizenship 
according  to  our  laws,  nor  does  it  confer  upon  them  a United 
States  citizenship  according  to  the  laws  of  that  country,  hence 
there  are  no  grounds  to  resist  extradition  according  to  the 
terms  of  the  treaty.  Nevertheless  the  generality  of  these 
parties  .commit  offenses  on  both  sides  of  the  Bravo,  and  remain 
unpunished.  Their  punishment  at  the  place  where  it  could 
be  proved  they  had  committed  their  crimes  would  be  very 
advantageous. 


222 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


Fourth.  The  great  distance  from  Matamoros  to  Monterey 
Laredo  and  the  intermediate  towns,  following  the  Mexican 
frontier,  and  from  Brownsville  to  Laredo  and  the  intermediate 
towns,  by  way  of  the  United  States  frontier,  suggests  the  pro- 
priety of  appointing  an  extradition  commissioner  according  to 
the  fourth  article  of  the  treaty,  at  each  one  of  these  places,  in 
order  that  the  proceedings  may  he  efficient.  In  view  of  the 
facility  which  both  frontiers  furnish  for  the  escape  and  conceal- 
ment of  criminals,  the  greatest  possible  facilities  should  be 
provided  for  their  arrest. 

These  measures  have  suggested  themselves  to  the  Commis- 
sion, but  it  must  confess  that,  until  the  State  of  Texas  adopts  a 
better  legislation,  and  endeavors  to  have  it  strictly  enforced, 
doing  away  with  the  abuses  which,  under  the  name  of  custom, 
are  so  many  means  for  cattle  stealing,  there  must  be  on  the 
United  States  frontier  a constant  cause  of  demoralization 
which,  under  certain  conditions,  will  show  itself  in  the  stealing 
of  cattle  and  carrying  them  to  our  side,  in  spite  of  all  the  meas- 
ures which  may  be  taken.  The  Commission  is  aware  of  the 
difficulties  surrounding  the  undertaking,  on  account  of  the 
great  number  of  persons  who  have  made  and  are  endeavoring 
to  increase  their  fortunes  through  such  disturbances,  while  as 
many  more  would  like  to  do  so  by  the  same  means. 


XIX. 

Tlie  Commission  in  the  course  of  its  labors  has  taken  special 
care  to  investigate  the  trnth,  has  omitted  no  means  to  attain 
this  end,  and  it  now  seeks  to  present  it  in  this  report. 

In  the  history  of  the  relations  between  the  two  frontiers, 
the  question  of  cattle  stealing  is  only  an  incidental  one,  and  is 
doomed  to  disappear  so  soon  as  it  shall  have  answered  its  polit- 
ical purposes. 

What  merits  particular  attention  is,  that  series  of  crises 
which  have  periodically  occurred  in  their  intercourse  since 
1848,  and  the  invariable  solution  of  which  has  been  sought  for 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


223 


in  the  expansion  of  territory.  Tliis  is  in  substance  the  meaning 
of  the  question  of  cattle  stealing. 

Until  the  spirit  prevailing  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river  is 
modified,  a similar  condition  of  things  must  continue  to  exist, 
and,  certainly,  neither  laws  nor  treaties  will  prove  a remedy, 
although  they  may  perhaps  contribute  thereto. 

The  most  powerful  preventive  will  be  found  in  the  devel-  ■ 
opment  of  a class  of  interests,  different  from  that  at  present 
existing  on  the  frontier,  and  especially  an  increase  in  real 
property,  to  the  end  that,  instead  of  as  now,  seeking  to  bring 
about  a rupture  for  the  profits  expected  to  be  derived  from  it, 
their  exertions  might  then  be  directed  towards  maintaining 
friendly  relations,  for  the  benefits  to  be  obtained  through  them 
and  the  necessity  of  their  preservation. 

Monterey,  May  15th,  1873. 

Emilio  Yelasoo, 

. Ygnacio  Galindo, 

Antonio  Garcia  Carrillo. 

Augustin  Silicio, 

Secretary. 


X.A.TI1:  REPORTS. 


COMMISSIOiX  OF  INVESTIGATION 


ON  THE 

NORTHERN  FRONTIER. 


I.-) 


COMMISSIOX  OF  INVESTIGATIOX 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER 


Citizen  Minister  : 

In  the  communication  which  I have  the  honor  to  forward 
you,  in  compliance  with  the  decree  of  2d  October,  1872,  which 
provided  for  the  scrupulous  investigation  of  the  injuries  suf- 
fered by  the  inhabitants  on  the  Northern  frontier  of  Mexico, 
you  will  see  these  injuries  specified  in  detail,  setting  forth  their 
orio;in  and  characteristics,  and  showing  the  evil  in  all  its  various 
phases. 

It  was  not  possible  to  give  to  this  work  less  magnitude  than 
that  which  it  has  assumed,  for  the  reason  that  the  simple  nar- 
rative of  the  facts,  and  the  quotations  from  various  documents 
necessitated  quite  a volume.  It  also  includes  the  opinion  of  the 
Commission  on  the  best  remedies  to  be  applied  to  each  of  the 
obstacles  which  retards  the  progress  of  that  part  of  the  country, 
and  it  has  been  deemed  expedient  to  compile  these  suggestions 
in  such  form  as  will  facilitate  their  presentation  by  you  to  the 
president,  for  his  consideration. 

In  the  first  place,  it  is  shown  that  the  establishment  of  a 
military  post  on  the  frontier  is  indispensable  to  maintain  order, 
and  form  the  basis  of  a regular  footing  for  the  relations  be- 


228 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


tween  this  republic  and  that  of  the  United  States.  The  officer 
to  be  placed  in  command  of  these  troops  should  be  of  high 
rank,  and  possessed  of  qualities  to  render  him  respected. 

2.  It  is  of  the  utmost  importance  that  the  upper  portion  of 
the  Rio  Grande  be  guarded  by  detachments  of  from  250  to  300 
men,  to  be  posted  at  San  Vicente,  el  Burro  and  -las  Vacas,  by 
which  measure  the  incursions  of  the  savages  can  be  restrained, 
and  a stop  put  to  the  raids  made  by  the  Texan  populace  from 
this  quarter,  and  the  injuries  received  by  Mexicans. 

3.  To  advance  tbe  interests  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  vast 
wilderness  lying  between  Chihuahua,  Coahuila  and  Durango, 
and  to  give  encouragement  and  protection  to  Mexicans  who 
will  settle  there  ; keeping  in  mind  that  the  settlement  of  this 
tract  can  only  be  effected  by  first  guarding  the  frontier,  and 
thereby  giving  security  to  the  settlers ; the  government  lands 
should  be  surveyed  and  distributed  to  applicants,  or  to  emi- 
grants from  the  central  States  of  the  republic,  as  was  done  by 
the  Spanish  Government. 

4.  To  encourage  the  settlement  of  towns  under  the  princi- 
ples indicated,  employing  the  resources  conceded  to  the  frontier 
States,  under  the  name  of  “ assistance,”  and  protecting  the 
capital  so  invested,  that  it  may  not  be  diverted  from  its  object. 

5.  To  form  a new  territory  of  all  the  new  towns,  so  that 
the  General  Government  may  be  more  active  and  energetic 
towards  the  advancement  of  the  settlers,  provided,  always,  that 
they  are  Mexicans. 

6.  To  regulate  the  intercourse  between  the  innumerable 
ranchos  lying  on  the  border  of  the  Rio  Grande,  in  such  man- 
ner as  will  not  injure  nor  compromise  the  international  rela- 
tions, nor  affect  the  revenues  of  the  public  treasury,  by  per- 
mitting the  introduction  of  contraband  goods  by  tbe  inhabitants 
thereof,  or  by  their  protection  to  contrabandists. 

7.  To  promulgate  such  laws  as  are  considered  best  for  the 
suppression  of  the  cattle  thieves,  including  such  measures  as 
may  be  necessary  to  prevent  the  flight  of  servants,  who  carry 
off  from  the  country  vast  capital,  and  who,  by  their  crimes  on 
either  shore  of  the  Rio  Grande,  compromise  the  international 
relations. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


229 


8.  To  try  and  better  the  condition  of  Mexicans  residing  in 
Texas  who  are  owners  of  property  in  that  State.  This  is  made 
essential  from  the  feeling  against  them,  shown  by  the  unprece- 
dented injuries  to  which  they  are  daily  subjected.  Besides  the 
action  of  the  diplomatic  bureau,  the  establishment  of  a consulate 
in  Corpus  Christi  would  contribute  greatly  towards  effecting  a 
beneficial  change  in  this  particular, 

9.  To  so  reform  the  regulations  governing  the  trade  of  the 
Zona  Libre,  that  no  articles  of  merchandise  can  be  consumed 
by  the  inhabitants  of  the  region  without  the  payment  of  taxes, 
however  moderate;  and  that  the  new  tariff  should  embrace 
some  of  the  articles  now  included  in  the  present  tariff  rates ; 
and  that  this  change  be  effected  upon  the  basis  indicated  in  a 
separate  memorial  addressed  to  the  Secretary  of  tlie  Treasury. 

10.  That  without  departing  from  the  rules  laid  down  in  the 
Circular  of  10th  September,  1850,  such  others  may  be  applied 
as  have  been  proved  by  experience  to  be  best  for  the  solution 
of  Indian  questions,  thereby  inaugurating  a simple  policy, 
straightforward  and  just  towards  these  tribes,  wlienever  they 
present  themselves  in  our  territory. 

11.  Appoint  a council,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  inform  it- 
self on  all  questions  relating  to  Indian  depredations,  taking  ex- 
act evidence  relative  to  the  injuries  sustained  by  Mexican 
citizens,  and  upon  all  other  subjects  bearing  upon  the  question, 
so  as  to  avoid  responsibility  and  secure  the  rights  of  such  Mexi- 
can citizens  as  have  been  injured  ; in  all  cases  the  council  must 
take  cognizance  of  the  tribe  of  Indians  committing  the  depre- 
dation, their  place  of  residence,  the  amount  of  the  damages 
done  by  them,  and  the  responsibility  incurred  by  authorities 
or  citizens  of  the  United  States  ; also  the  action  taken  by  United 
States  officers  for  their  punishment,  and  that  used  by  Mexicans 
for  their  repression.  The  council  to  be  specially  charged  to 
open  relations  with  Texas  or  such  portion  of  the  State  as  is 
inhabited  by  Indians,  in  order  to  investigate  fully  the  conduct 
pursued  by  American  authorities  towards  native  tribes,  and 
that  maintained  upon  the  government  reservations,  and  towards 
those  who  lead  a nomadic  life,  using  meantime  every  measure 


230 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


to  inform  itself  cOS  to  the  ultimate  destination  of  the  stolen 
property. 

12.  To  inaugurate  reforms  in  the  laws  of  justice,  by  reor- 
ganizing the  federal  tribunals  in  such  manner  as  that  the  courts 
may  be  administered  by  persons  of  known  abilit}',  having  for 
their  assistants  in  all  cases  men  no  less  worthy  than  themselves. 
Their  jurisdiction  should  include  all  such  crimes  as  compromise 
the  international  relations. 

13.  That  the  penal  code,  relating  to  contrabandists,  is  like- 
wise in  want  of  thorough  reform ; frauds  against  the  treasury 
by  smuggling  are  not  considered  dishonorable,  and  demand  the 
severe  treatment  of  corporal  punishment,  such  as  imprisonment 
of  the  merchant  who  commits  the  crime,  and  the  closing  of  his 
place  of  business  should  he  be  a Mexican  citizen,  and  banish- 
ment from  the  republic  should  he  be  a foreigner. 

After  enumerating  all  the  troubles  which  afflict  the  Mexican 
frontier,  in  the  report  made  by  the  Commission,  they  considered 
their  work  incomplete,  and  proceeded  to  express  their  judgment 
as  to  the  proper  means  of  remedying  the  evil.  They  do  not 
presume  to  say  that  they  have  discovered  the  best  means,  and 
perhaps  no  measures  could  be  applied  which  would  correct  such 
inveterate  wrong  doing,  which,  by  reason  of  its  long  duration, 
is  rendered  the  more  difficult  to  deal  with  ; but  it  is  certain 
that  the  measures  and  regulations  which  they  propose  have 
all  been  deliberately  and  carefully  studied  by  them ; and 
should  they  even  prove  not  equal  to  extirpating  the  evils 
on  the  frontier,  which  have  taken  such  root,  at  least  they  will 
undoubtedly  conduce  to  an  amelioration  thereof,  and  admit  of 
a choice  by  such  persons  as  are  well  posted  in  regard  to  the 
general  situation  of  the  country,  the  character  of  the  people, 
and  in  fact  the  true  condition  of  affairs. 

In  presenting  to  you  this  compendium  of  the  result  of  the 
labors  confided  to  us,  we  must  not  conceal  that  the  inhabitants 
of  Northern  Mexico,  wearied  by  their  sufferings  which  number 
half  a century,  desire  even  more  than  the  reparation  of  losses 
and  damages  sustained,  a regular  system  of  protection  which 
will  secure  them  from  future  annoyances.  They  wish  to  live 
in  security  from  the  injuries,  wliich,  up  to  the  present,  they 


NORTHERN'  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


231 


receive  almost  daily  from  the  authorities  and  citizens  of  the 
United  States,  and  which  they  are  compelled  to  endure  through 
their  weakness  and  inability  to  resent  them. 

If  some  of  their  objects  have  been  accomplished,  the  Com- 
mission will  feel  perfectly  satisfied,  and  if  the  results  desired 
have  not  been  so  successful  as  intended,  they  will  still  enjoy 
the  consciousness  of  knowing  that  their  eftbrts  were  solely  en- 
gaged to  this  end. 

Independence  and  Liberty. 

Mexico,  March  13,  1874. 

(Signed.)  IGNACIO  GALINDO. 

(Signed.)  Feancisco  Valdez  Gomez. 

Secretary, 

To  the  Minister  of  Foreign  Relations. 

(Copy.) 

Mexico,  March  13,  1874. 

Fkancisco  Valdez  Gomez, 

Secretary. 


COMMISSION  OF  INVESTIGATION 


ON  THE 

NORTHERN  FRONTIER. 


The  Oomniission  charged  with  the  investigation  of  the 
affairs  on  the  northern  frontier  of  the  republic,  in  the  States 
of  Coahuila,  Nuevo  Leon,  and  Tamaulipas,  have  made  a 
detailed  report  of  the  result  of  their  labors  to  the  Minister 
of  Foreign  Affairs.  Besides  showing  the  evils  existing,  the 
Commission  have  pointed  out  sucb  remedies  which,  in  their 
opinion,  they  consider  as  best  adapted  to  elevate  that  important 
portion  of  the  country  from  the  prostration  to  which  it  has  been 
reduced. 

As  some  of  these  remedies  suggested  belong  to  the  military 
branch,  it  has  been  determined  to  forward  a minute  of  them  to 
you,  that  through  yorx  they  may  be  brought  to  the  notice  of 
the  President  for  his  consideration  and  resolve. 

In  the  above-named  report  the  Commission  showed  the 
urgent  necessity  of  guarding  the  line  of  the  Rio  Grande  by  a 
regiment  of  infantry,  to  give  dignity  to  the  republic,  and  re- 
strain by  their  presence  the  disorders  which  so  frequently  occur 
whether  by  the  incursions  of  Indians  or  the  invasions  of  fili- 
busters. This  measure  recommends  itself ; and  it  is  a fact  that 
Mexico  has  always  endeavored  to  maintain  a respectable  guard 
on  lier  frontier.  If,  in  1855,  she  was  compelled  to  withdraw 
these  forces,  it  was  not  because  she  did  not  recognize  their 
utility  and,  in  fact,  necessity,  but  on  account  of  the  demoraliza- 
tion existing,  Avhich  had  extended  to  the  army.  Now  that 
discipline  has  made  this  branch  of  the  public  service  distin- 
guished, the  frontier  claims  its  co-operation  in  the  public 
welfare,  and  hopes  that  a guard  may  be  sent  who  will  contribute 
to  the  bettering  of  their  towns. 

O 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


233 


The  same  necessity  exists,  and,  in  fact,  there  is  greater 
urgency  for  the  garrisoning  of  the  old  Fort  of  San  Vicente,  of 
el  Burro,  and  of  las  Vacas,  each  by  a detachment  of  from  two 
to  three  hundred  men.  These  points  are  situated  on  the 
margin  of  the  Rio  Grande,  and  it  is  the  opinion  of  old  officers 
of  the  disbanded  garrisons  of  these  forts,  with  whom  conference 
has  been  had  upon  the  subject,  that  these  points  command  the 
best  strategical  positions  for  covering  the  whole  line,  and  de- 
fending Coahuila,  Durango,  Zacatecas,  San  Luis  Potosi,  Nuevo 
Leon,  and  Tamaulipas  from  the  incursions  of  savages. 

Without  possessing  any  military  knowledge,  the  Commis- 
sion, nevertheless,  takes  the  liberty  to  recommend  the  garrison- 
ing of  the  above-named  points,  not  only  because  this  is  suggested 
by  superior  officers  of  the  old  companies  of  those  forts,  but 
because  they  had  been  selected  for  this  object  ever  since  the 
days  of  the  Colonial  Government,  which  left  so  many  proofs 
of  its  skill  in  these  matters. 

In  order  to  influence  the  government  to  adopt  these  or  other 
similar  measures,  plans  of  the  country  have  been  made,  in  which 
the  rivers,  mountains  and  valleys  are  laid  down  with  the  object 
of  their  being  considered  by  officers  of  the  army,  amongst  whom 
there  must  be  many  well  versed  in  this  branch  who  can  study 
such  points  and  classify  the  opinions  collected  upon  the  sub- 
ject, as  already  stated. 

The  defense  of  the  frontier  is  of  the  greatest  importance, 
and  should  be  decided  upon,  and  organized  without  delay, 
since  an  exact  report  of  the  sufferings  of  the  inhabitants  has 
been  made.  Never  before  has  the  country  been  able  to  dispose 
of  so  well  disciplined  an  array  which  does  credit  to  the  country 
it  serves,  and  never  before  has  there  been  known  to  exist  such 
an  immensity  of  wrong  with  such  easy  facility  for  curing  it. 

The  system  of  defense  will  lack  completeness  if  forces  are 
not  stationed  at  the  entrance  of  Bolson  de  Mapimi,  or,  what  is 
the  same  thing,  at  the  Lagoon  of  Tahualilo  ; and  it  is  the  gen- 
eral belief  that  these  guards,  properly  stationed,  will  encour- 
age emigration  to  that  part  of  the  country,  which  is  inviting 
with  its  wealth  and  abundance. 


231 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


There  is  a law  relating  to  the  establishment  of  military  col- 
onies on  the  frontier,  and  although  this  is  of  itself  sufficient  to 
better  the  condition  of  things,  yet,  on  account  of  its  great  cost- 
liness, the  benefit  to  be  derived  will  have  to  be  postponed. 

It  is  better  to  state  here  that,  without  such  enormous  ex- 
penses, equal  benefit  may  be  obtained,  and  would  already  have 
been  reached,  had  the  appropriation  of  five  thousand  dollars 
monthly,  accorded  to  the  frontier  States,  been  applied  to  this 
object  as  judiciously  as  it  should  have  been  by  the  Governors 
of  the  frontier  ; but  this  amount,  expended  without  any  special 
or  settled  plan,  tnakes  the  sacrifices  of  the  nation  useless,  and 
retards  the  progress  of  the  country,  whilst  dangers  threaten 
from  the  incursions  of  the  Indians  on  one  hand,  and  interna- 
tonal  complications  on  the  other,  arising  from  the  abandon- 
ment of  our  line,  and  giving  rise  to  the  complaints  made  by  our 
neighbors. 

The  ten  thousand  dollars  apportioned  to  Coahuila  and 
Nuevo  Leon,  employed  as  intended,  which,  up  to  the  present 
has  not  been  done  on  account  of  the  shortsightedness  of 
those  charged  with  the  distribution  of  the  funds,  would  have 
settled  a town  one  year,  and  another  the  next  year,  and 
by  the  payment  of  guards  to  give  security  and  protection 
during  the  first  few  years  of  their  establishment,  astonishing 
results  might  have  been  attained,  particularly  if  the  emi- 
grants had  been  drafted  from  such  places  where  numbers 
of  families  live  in  abject  poverty  and  misery.  It  was  by 
this  means  that  all  these  regions  of  country  were  peopled, 
after  their  discovery.  Besides,  it  is  mere  illusion  to  believe 
that  other  emigrants  will  settle  there,  nor  is  it  patriotic  to 
people  the  frontier  with  other  than  Mexicans  in  heart  and 
nationality. 

The  ideas  here  expressed,  it  is  not  necessary  to  say,  are  the 
result  of  careful  observations  on  the  part  of  the  Commission, 
and  of  a minute  and  detailed  examination  of  the  present  and 
former  situations.  For  this  reason  they  are  recommended  to 
you,  and  we  pray  you  to  present  them  to  the  President  for  his 
consideration,  and  for  the  adoption  of  those  which,  in  his 
opinion,  will  produce  any  public  benefit.  You  will  undoubtedly 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


235 


succeed  with  your  exquisite  tact  and  that  experience  and 
knowledge  of  men  and  things  which  your  years  of  labor  in 
the  administration  of  affairs  of  the  republic  have  gained  for 
you. 

Independence  and  liberty. 

]\Ie.xico,  March  10,  1871, 

IGNACIO  GALINDO. 

Fkancisco  Valdez  Gomez, 

Secretary. 

To  the  Minister  of  War. 

(Copy.) 

March  10,  187L  ^ 

Feancisoo  Valdez  Gomez, 

Secretary. 


COMMISSION  OF  INVESTIGATION 


ON  THE 

NOETHERN  FRONTIER. 


Amongst  the  many  inconveniences  ■which  thwart  the  prog- 
ress of  the  frontier,  the  principal  one  is  the  sparsity  of  the  pop- 
ulation ; in  that  region  there  are  large  tracts  of  waste  lands 
which  no  one  cares  to  appropriate,  on  account  of  the  immense 
expenditures  necessary  to  acquire  property,  and  the  delay 
attendant  on  the  information  which  must  be  given  to  the  Gov- 
ernor of  the  State  in  which  the  land  lies,  the  securing  of  the 
approbation  of  the  minister,  apart  from  cost  of  surveying, 
which  very  often  no  one  dares  to  make  on  account  of  the 
perils  incurred  in  the  wilderness  from  the  attacks  of  Indians. 
All  these  are  barriers  to  the  settlement  of  the  country. 

If  this  state  of  things  continue,  the  frontier  will  never  be 
peopled,  and  the  wealth  of  the  land  will  remain  unproductive. 
It  is  easy  to  infer  what  class  of  people  are  likely  to  settle  this 
region ; by  changing  the  tariff,  making  the  acquisition  of 
the  lands  more  easy  by  apportioning  the  lots  from  surveys  pre- 
viously made,  and  numbering  them  in  order  to  make  the  trans- 
fer easy,  and  by  thus  disposing  of  all  the  Government  waste 
lands,  the  country  will  soon  be  fully  populated. 

In  order  to  realize  these  ideas,  the  Commission  took  the 
first  step  by  addressing  a surveyor  in  Monterey,  who  has  agreed 
to  make  the  measurements  on  the  basis  of  the  accompanying 
note.  As  you  will  observe,  his  propositions  do  not  appear  ex- 
aggerated, and  contain  all  the  necessary  qualifications  for  giv- 
ing impetus  to  the  development  of  the  country  wdthout  great 
expense  to  the  republic.  lie  suggests  an  easy  method  for  pop- 
ulating a desert,  the  existence  of  -which  is  not  unfrequently  a 
cause  for  charges  against  Mexico. 

Although  this  same  project  has  been  proposed  through  the 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


237 


Minister  of  Foreign  Kelations,  under  general  principles,  it 
specially  pertains  to  the  office  under  your  charge,  and  it  has 
therefore  been  considered  advisable  to  make  these  explanations, 
accompanied  by  a draft  of  the  measures  proposed,  in  order  that 
you  may  bring  it  to  the  notice  of  the  President,  and  with  his 
advice,  determine  the  course  to  be  pursued. 

Independence  and  liberty. 

Monterey,  February  1,  1874. 

IGNACIO  GALINDO. 

Francisco  Valdez  Gomez, 

Secretary. 

To  the  Minister  of  Fomento. 

(Copy.) 

Mexico,  March  10,  1874. 

Francisco  Valdez  Gomez, 

Secretary. 


In  reply  to  yours  of  the  6th  instant,  asking  me  for  the  con- 
ditions under  which  I would  be  willing  to  make  a plan  of  the 
lands  in  the  northern  part  of  the  States  of  Nuevo  Leon  and 
Coahuila,  and  to  give  some  of  the  details  in  relation  to  the 
proposed  measurement,  in  order  that  the  proposal  may  be 
made  to  the  national  government,  I address  to  you  the  follow- 
ing : 

1st.  The  plan  or  map  of  these  lands,  which  are  almost  un- 
known, covers  an  area  extending  from  about  the  27°  to  the  30° 
of  north  latitude,  and  from  0°  to  3°  of  longitude  west  of  the 
meridian  of  Mexico,  including  besides  points  which,  although 
outside  of  these  limits,  deserve,  in  my  opinion,  to  be  better 
known  to  the  national  government. 

2d.  The  plan  will  contain,  besides  the  mountains,  rivers, 
and  general  features  of  the  country,  a minute  description  of  the 
geographical  situation  of  that  region,  its  elevation  above  the 
sea,  the  settlements  now  in  existence,  as  well  as  those  places 
sparsely  or  totally  uninhabited  which  deserve  particular  atten- 
tion on  account  of  their  fertility,  pasturage,  and  mines,  which 


238 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


make  them  especially  adapted  to  the  maintenance  of  a popula- 
tion more  or  less  numerous. 

3d.  The  above  named  map  will  be  accompanied  by  special 
plans  of  the  towns  and  places  mentioned  in  the  second  proposi- 
tion, showing  the  topography  of  the  place. 

4th.  As  a road  is  contemplated  from  Piedras  Negras  to 
Chihuahua,  its  track  will  be  laid  down  on  the  map,  and  a note 
made  of  such  places  on  its  route  as  are  best  adapted  for  settle- 
ments, marking  the  water,  and  their  distance  from  it,  and 
giving  the  quantity  of  water  found  in  such  places  as  are  con- 
sidered to  have  the  best  facilities  of  every  kind,  keeping  in 
mind  that  the  road  is  a public  highway. 

5th.  The  general  and  special  plans  will  be  accompanied  by 
a diary  of  the  expedition,  which  will  contain  a detailed  descrip- 
tion of  everything  that  will  lead  to  a thorough  knowledge  of 
the  face  of  the  country,  and  of  its  properties  and  qualifications, 
as  well  as  all  the  proceedings  employed  in  making  the  survey, 
in  order  that  confidence  may  be  felt  in  the  reliability  of  the 
work.  A copy  of  these  documents  will  be  presented  to  the 
government  and  another  to  the  society  of  “ Geografia  y Esta- 
distiea.” 

Gth.  That  I shall  be  paid  the  sum  of  $300  monthly,  whilst 
in  the  perforniiance  of  this  work,  which  will  probably  not  ex- 
ceed two  years,  and  besides  this  salary  I shall  receive  8I5OOO, 
to  be  paid  with  $600  advance  salary,  two  months  before  com- 
mencing the  work,  in  case  these  conditions  are  accepted,  in 
order  to  buy  the  instruments  and  make  the  preparations  neces- 
sary. 

7th.  That  the  employment  of  six.  men  during  the  whole 
time  the  work  lasts,  will  be  at  the  expense  of  the  government. 

8th.  As  the  district  to  be  surveyed  is  frequently  overrun 
by  hordes  of  savages  who  cross  from  the  left  bank  of  the  Eio 
Bravo,  an  escort  of  forty  men  is  indispensable,  in  order  to  re- 
pulse or  attack  tribes  who  molest  or  interrupt  the  work,  and 
that  the  escort  be  paid  by  the  government  and  placed  under 
my  control. 

9th.  If  it  is  decided  to  undertake  the  work  spoken  of,  the 
government  will  please  forward  the  orders  which  I am  to  fol- 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


239 


low  immediately,  and  advise  me  as  to  whom  I am  to  address 
mj’self  during  the  time  I am  engaged  in  the  work. 

These  are  my  propositions ; if  you  consider  them  accept- 
able, they  may  be  presented  to  the  national  government  for  its 
determination.  I do  not  think  that  any  others  more  satisfac- 
tory or  economical  could  be  made. 

In  regard  to  the  loyal  and  conscientious  fulfillment  of  these 
proposals  on  my  part,  I leave  you  to  be  the  judge  ; you  ought 
to  know  me  well  enough. 

I will  add,  that  as  both  you  and  I know  somewhat  of  the 
signs  and  situation  of  the  mineralogical  districts  from  persons 
who  have  gone  over  many  of  these  points,  if  the  government 
should  decide  to  have  me  accompanied  by  a scientific  mineral- 
ogist, I believe  that  interesting  results  may  be  obtained.  I 
Avould  suggest,  therefore,  that  Avhen  you  propose  the  surveying 
expedition,  you  also  urge  that  it  be  accompanied  by  a mineral- 
ogist. 

Monterey,  December  10th,  1873. 

(Signed),  FRANCISCO  L.  MIER. 

Se.  Lie.  D.  Ignacio  Galindo. 

(Copy). 

Mexico,  Alarch  10th,  1871. 

Fkancisco  Yaldez  Gomez, 

Secretary. 


IXVESTIGATIK-G  COMMISSION 


OF  THE 

NORTHERN  FRONTIER. 


CiT.  Miisistee  : 

Animated  by  the  sentiments  heretofore  expressed  in  this 
report,  and  prompted  by  the  same  spirit  with  which  they  had 
organized  the  work  in  Matamoros,  confided  to  the  Commission 
by  decree  of  2d  October,  1872,  they  left  that  city  on  the  first 
of  last  June  in  order  to  visit  the  towns  on  the  banks  of  the  Rio 
Grande,  from  Ciudad  Guerrero  to  Resurreccion,  and  also  those 
of  Xuevo  Leon  and  Coahuila,  for  the  purpose  of  hearing  the 
complaints  of  the  inhabitants  and  of  studjdng  the  diverse 
questions  of  the  frontier  in  its  relations  with  the  United 
States. 

With  the  consciousness  of  never  havmg  omitted  a single 
opportunity  of  arriving  at  the  truth,  which  they  have  invaria- 
bly sought  with  the  spirit  of  rectitude  and  impartiality  which 
their  responsible  position  demanded  of  them,  the  Commission 
are  enabled  to  present  at  this  time  the  result  of  their  labors 
together  with  the  second  part  of  their  report,  which,  on  account 
of  its  voluminousness,  was  not  ready  for  presentation  at  the 
appointed  time.  It  includes  a complete  opinion  relative  to  the 
depredations  committed  by  Indians  living  in  Mexico  and’ by 
those  living  in  the  United  States,  and  of  the  damages  sustained 
by  both  countries. 

Following  the  same  system  initiated  in  Matamoros,  the 
Commission  continued  the  examination  of  the  question  of 
horse  and  cattle  stealing  along  the  line  of  the  Rio  Grande  in 
the  three  States  to  Piedras  Negras,  which  is  as  far  as  is  settled 
by  Mexicans  and  Americans,  and  on  this  subject  which  they 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


241 


have  already  discussed  and  presented  under  all  its  phases,  the 
Commission  will  only  add  a few  new  observations  as  to  other 
points  presented  by  the  unsettled  regions,  and  give  another 
cause  for  the  origin  of  this  evil,  from  which  Mexico  has  suffered 
since  her  towns  and  settlements  became  in  such  close  contact 
with  those  of  the  neighboring  republic. 

Tlie  knowledge  which  the  majority  of  the  Commission  has 
of  the  principal  towns  on  the  frontier,  as  well  as  of  many  of 
the  less  important  localities,  has  greatly  aided  it  in  the  accom- 
plishment of  its  labors,  and  enabled  it  to  reach  the  object  de- 
sired— the  truth.  The  well  established  integrity  of  the  greater 
number  of  witnesses  and  the  plan  followed  in  the  investigation 
leaves  no  doubt  of  the  desired  result,  as  is  proved  by  the 
unanimity  of  the  witnesses  examined  and  the  evidence  obtained 
from  the  arcliives,  setting  forth  clearly  the  number  of  incur- 
sions which  occurred  during  twenty-five  3’ears,  the  tribes  by 
whom  tliey  were  committed  and  the  amount  of  damages  done. 

The  Commission  did  not  limit  itself  to  these  points.  It 
traced  the  Indians  to  their  camping  grounds,  to  which  it  pro- 
ceeded through  the  guidance  of  those  who  had  pursued  the  sava- 
ges thither  and  by  directions  from  ransomed  prisoners,  by  those 
taken  in  war  or  rescued  by  the  United  States  troops  on  their 
own  territory.  It  was  determined  that  all  of  these  witnesses 
should  testify  as  to  what  they  had  actually  seen,  and  thus  ob- 
tain facts  and  details  which  could  not  easily  be  obtained  else- 
where. The  importance  of  this  testimony  was  highly  estimated 
by  the  confirmation  it  received  from  the  opinions  of  the  mili- 
tary occupied  in  making  war  on  the  Indians,  but  who  were 
unable  in  later  pursuits  to  follow  the  savages  to  their  camping 
grounds  as  had  hitherto  been  done. 

After  having  collected  all  the  evidence  possible  from  old 
captives,  whose  declarations  went  as  far  back  as  the  colonial 
government,  as  well  as  from  those  who  have  been  made  captive 
in  later  years,  it  became  necessary,  in  order  to  substantiate  the 
proofs  and  explain  the  origin  of  tlie  evil,  to  inquire  by  every 
possible  means  into  the  policy  which  has  been  pursued  towards 
the  different  tribes  of  Indians  who  have  been  hostile  to  Mex- 
ico since  1848,  and  who  live  in  United  States  territory.  Besides, 
16 


242 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


it  was  necessary  to  discover,  even  though  in  a general  way, 
the  hostile  attitude  of  those  tribes  towards  the  United  States, 
and  to  this  end  the  Commission  directed  its  energies,  collect- 
ing all  the  data  furnished  by  Texan  newspapers  of  late  dates, 
and  using  efiorts  to  procure  all  information  on  the  subject  pub- 
lished in  former  years. 

The  application  of  these  published  notices  was  of  the  utmost 
importance,  and  to  secure  them  the  Commission  employed 
every  means  at  its  command,  for  it  well  understood  that  they 
alone  were  all-sufficient  to  destroy  the  value  of  the  charges 
brought  against  Mexico  by  persons  who,  blinded  through  prej- 
udice, would  never  see  but  one  phase  of  the  question. 

This  labor  showed  the  fallacy  of  the  judgment  of  the  Ameri- 
can Commission,  who  attributed,  in  its  report  of  the  1st  Decem- 
ber of  the  past  year,  the  depredations  committed  on  the  Rio 
Grande  to  the  Ivickapoos,  Lipans,  Seminoles,  Carrizos  and 
other  Indians,  who,  having  haunts  in  Mexico,  Chihuahua  and 
Coahuila,  came  on  the  American  frontier  to  molest  the  settle- 
ments. 

In  addition  to  this  general  investigation,  special  care  has 
been  given  to  obtain  all  the  information  possible  relative  to  the 
above  named  tribes,  and  the  result  of  this  investigation  has 
shown  the  incorrectness  of  the  report.  With  the  exception  of 
the  Kickapoos,  none  of  the  tribes  mentioned  live  in  Mexico ; 
many  of  them  only  existing  in  name,  'the  tribe  having  entirely 
died  out. 

A long  list  of  invasions  and  injuries  committed  on  the  banks 
of  the  Rio  Grande  in  Mexican  territory  by  American  citizens 
was  also  discovered  ; and  although  the  spirit  which  prompted 
or  characterized  these  abuses  was  extensively  discussed  in  the 
first  part  of  this  report,  it  must  again  be  touched  upon  in  order 
to  present  the  question  under  all  its  phases,  one  of  these  espe- 
cially being  a determined  tendency  to  disturb  and  annoy,  un- 
der one  pretext  or  another,  the  tranquility  of  the  frontier  towns 
of  Mexico. 

Another  distinct  cause  has  presented  itself  to  the  Commis- 
sion at  every  step,  showing  a great  difficulty  to  exist  in  all 
these  towns  through  fugitive  servants.  On  account  of  the  close 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


243 


connection  which  this  evil  maintains  with  natural  difficulties, 
which  it  has  contributed  to  increase,  to  tlie  injury  of  Mexican 
settlements  and  Texan  proprietors,  as  well  as  the  participation 
by  these  fugitives  in  horse  and  cattle  robberies,  it  was  thought 
indispensable  to  collect  all  data  which  would  give  a clearer 
idea  of  the  situation  than  could  possibly  be  arrived  at  without 
such  information,  and  which  would  likewise  demonstrate  the 
origin  of  serious  social  evils,  which  should  be  as  promptly 
dealt  with  as  the  gravity  of  the  case  seems  to  demand,  whether 
the  question  to  be  considered  be  the  loss  of  men  to  the  republic, 
or  the  complications  which  their  naturally  bad  conduct  causes 
on  either  frontier. 

In  the  development  of  a mercantile  spirit,  noticeable  in  the 
populace  with  which  Texas  is  being  filled,  there  have  been 
found  points  worthy  of  study,  and  it  may  also  be  considered 
that  the  results  of  this  enterprise  have  given  rise  to  many  of  the 
existing  complications. 

In  treating  these  questions,  more  or  less  closely  connected, 
care  will  be  taken  to  point  out  in  each  the  cause  of  the  general 
evil  resulting  to  the  frontier  of  both  countries.  To  do  this,  all 
data  possible  have  been  accumulated,  the  archives  of  more  than 
one  hundred  and  fifty  leagues  of  the  line  of  the  Eio  Grande 
having  contributed  largely  to  the  fund  of  information.  The 
dates  of  these  proofs  and  their  conformity  with  other  evidence 
carry  with  them  such  evidence  of  proof,  that  they  may  be  im- 
plicitly trusted  and  the  deductions  made  from  them  relied 
upon. 

Fully  appreciating  testimonial  evidence,  the  Commission 
determined  not  to  omit  securing  it,  although,  for  the  investiga- 
tion of  Indian  depredations,  it  was  not  absolutely  indispensa- 
ble, on  account  of  the  old  custom  of  the  authorities  of  the 
States  inserting,  in  the  official  papers,  the  incursions  and  dep- 
redations of  Indians,  furnishing  thereby  a rich  fund  of  infor- 
mation, from  which  has  been  made  a general  estimate  of  the 
damages  done  by  the  savages.  This  has  also  been  used  as 
corroborative  testimony,  in  order  to  test  the  veracity  of  wit- 
nesses, their  correctness,  their  judgment,  and  the  knowledge 
which  they  possessed  about  the  matter  upon  which  they  testi- 


2U 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


fied.  In  the  narration  of  tliis  long  series  of  events,  many  of 
which  were  cruel  and  bloody,  the  witnesses  were  often  moved 
to  tears,  altliough  the  occurrences  haJ  taken  place  many  years 
before.  Kor  could  an3’thing  else  be  expected  from  men  who  had 
passed  the  greater  part  of  their  lives  in  combats  with  Indians, 
and  number  their  fights  by  the  number  of  their  wounds. 
Memory  cannot  play  them  false  in  that  which  concerns  the 
Indians, — when  the  witness,  through  the  murder  of  a father,  a 
son,  or  a brother,  has  good  cause  to  pursue  the  savages  and  to 
avail  himself  of  every  opportunity  to  avenge  the  injuries  done 
him.  Not  unfrequently  this  leads  to  a still  greater  loss  of 
life,  and  punishment  and  vengeance  have  to  be  left  to  the 
charge  of  strangers.  Such  is  the  history  of  the  frontier  towns. 

From  sources  as  direct  and  positive,  the  Commission  has 
collected  the  material  from  which  the  judgment  to  be  expressed 
in  its  report  was  formed  ; nor  will  the  Commission  hesitate 
to  affirm  that  all  the  circumstances  set  forth  are  true,  because 
it  has  examined  the  evidence  with  diligent  research,  and  because 
it  is  corroborated  by  the  history  of  these  towns,  by  the  experi- 
ence and  remembrances  of  men,  by  the  old  landmarks  and 
monuments,  and  by  the  stories  of  young  men  just  escaped  from 
captivity. 


HISTORICAL  SKETCH  OF  INDIAN  WARS  ON  THE 
FRONTIER  BEFORE  1848. 

When  the  limits  of  Mexico  reached  to  the  rivers  Sabine 
and  Arkansas,  the  eastern  and  northern  boundaries  of  Texas, 
this  immense  territory  was  inhabited  in  a very  few  settlements, 
which  were  constantly  molested  by  several  tribes  of  Indians. 
The  northern  line  of  outposts  was  rapidly  settled  about  the 
close  of  the  last  century,  in  consequence  of  the  establishment 
of  military  colonies  by  the  Spanish  Government.  Don  Juan 
do  Ugalde,  the  first  cominaiider-in-chief  of  these  colonies  in 
Tamaulipas,  Nuevo  Leon  and  Coahuila  (then  including  Texas), 
still  lives  in  the  memory  of  this  region,  on  account  of  his  ex- 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


245 


ploits  against  the  Indians  in  tlie  campaign  of  1Y96  ; a town 
and  a county  in  Texas  bear  his  name,  the  latter  having  been 
the  theater  of  some  of  Ids  battles. 

Eight  companies,  full  and  well  equipped,  were  distributed 
along  this  line — four  in  Coahuila,  three  in  Tamaulipas  and  one 
in  Nuevo  Leon — and  were  found  sufficient  to  repress  the  incur- 
sions of  the  Indians,  who,  for  a long  series  of  years,  never 
penetrated  to  the  second  tier  of  settlements  towards  the  south. 
During  the  war  of  Independence  the  Indians  were  kept  at  bay, 
although  a part  of  the  frontier  troops  was  drawn  off  to  the 
center  of  Mexico,  to  operate  against  the  insurgents. 

After  the  Independence  the  new  government  maintained 
the  colonial  companies,  and  in  1826  introduced  in  them  several 
reforms  found  necessary  by  experience.  Peace  reigned  in  all 
this  region,  which  became  highly  prosperous,  increasing  rapidly 
in  cattle  raising,  the  chief  pursuit  of  the  settlers  on  the  right 
bank  of  the  Rio  Grande. 

The  district  between  the  Nueces  and  the  Rio  Grande,  now 
a part  of  Texas,  but  then  owned  by  the  inhabitants  of  Rey- 
nosa,  Oamargo,  Mier,  Guerrero  and  Laredo,  was  very  soon 
filled  with  flocks  and  herds,  and  was  fully  protected  by  the 
companies  stationed  at  Bahia,  Alamo  and  Espiritu  Santo. 
Through  lack  of  population,  no  settlements  were  made  farther 
north,  and  the  security  thus  obtained  was  enjoyed  by  the  for- 
eign colonists  who  accompanied  Austin  and  located  near  San 
Antonio  de  Bejar. 

When,  a few  years  later,  the  Texans  revolted  against  the 
government,  a new  era  began,  which  is  still  well  remembered ; 
for  the  incursions  of  the  Comanches,  Lipans,  Mescalercs,  Cai- 
guas,  and  other  allied  tribes  date  from  1836.  The  frontier 
companies  were  no  longer  able  to  I’cpel  the  invaders,  who  pene- 
trated in  numerous  hordes  into  the  villages,  spreading  death 
and  desolation.  It  was  said  then,  and  it  has  been  again  alleged 
recently  before  this  Commission,  that  this  aggression  of  the 
savages  was  stimulated  by  the  Texans,  who  sought  thereby  an 
auxiliary  in  their  movement  for  independence.  The  Coman- 
ches and  other  allied  tribes  had  previously  lived  near  the 
Colorado  and  on  the  prairies  ; they  now  established  themselves 


246 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


on  the  left  bank  of  the  Rio  Grande.  At  this  time  the  districts 
of  Monclova,  Tillaldama  and  Matamoros  were  first  invaded, 
and  the  coincidence  of  these  depredations  with  the  Texan  war, 
along  with  the  peace  existing  between  those  tribes  and  the  in- 
surgents, was,  in  default  of  more  positive  proof,  a sufficient 
foundation  for  believing  these  hostilities  to  be  encouraged  by 
the  Texans. 

Further  invasions  were  soon  made  in  the  districts  of  Salinas, 
Monterey,  Saltillo,  Parras,  Yiesca,  Linares,  Matehuala,  Catorce, 
and  the  frontier  of  Zacatecas.  As  was  natural,  the  remnants  of 
the  frontier  garrisons,  of  those  cempanies  who,  for  so  many 
years,  had  formed  a wall  against  the  Indians,  resumed  their  task, 
though  now  superior  to  their  ability  ; but  by  the  aid  of  the  citi- 
zen militia,  then  first  called  out,  they  drove  back  the  invaders 
and  pursued  them  into  the  interior  of  Texas.  The  campaigns 
then  made  at  San  Saba  and  Rio  Puerco  proved  that  the  rebellion 
had  not  extended  to  the  west  of  Texas,  and  that  the  insurgents, 
protected  by  deserts,  forests  and  an  unhealthy  climate,  were  re- 
duced to  their  own  proper  limits. 

The  hordes  which  invaded  Mexico  were  now  settled  upon 
the  rivers  Brazos  and  Colorado,  and  scattered  throughout  the 
immense  plains  lying  between  Texas,  Aew  Mexico  and  the 
frontier  of  the  United  States.  It  was  there,  according  to  the 
expression  of  an  American  traveler  who  traded  in  1834  in 
Santa  Fe  and  Chihuahua,  that  the  savage  tribes  of  the  great 
western  prairies  lived.  The  Comanches,  the  wandering  Arabs 
of  this  hemisphere,  were  the  largest  known  tribe,  considering 
themselves  as  the  only  lords  of  those  plains,  where  they  hunted 
the  elk  in  summer,  spending  the  winter  upon  the  banks  of  the 
tributaries  of  the  Brazos  and  Colorado  rivers  in  Texas. 

From  these  regions  they  moved  southward  to  undertake 
their  career  of  hostilities  along  the  present  Mexican  frontier 
from  Chihuahua  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  robbing  cattle  and 
mules,  killing  men  and  taking  captives  women  and  children. 

These  Indians  of  the  prairies  and  of  Texas  amounted  to 
47,620  in  1842,  according  to  a census  taken  by  the  American 
Commissioners  for  Indian  Affairs.  The  Comanches  appear  in 
this  census  as  owners  of  the  prairies,  and  with  the  Kiowas, 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


247 


Apaches,  Arapahoes  and  Cheyennes,  amounted  to  16,100,  or 
about  half  the  number  of  the  remaining  small  tribes  whicli 
were  generally  subject  to  them,  and  with  which  they  sometimes 
had  bloody  wars. 

The  Commission  would  note  here  that  the  Indian  agents 
formed  a census  of  the  Comauches  and  the  allied  tribes  which 
pui'ported  to  be  complete  and  accurate.  If  these  Indians  lived 
in  Mexico,  the  census  could  not  have  been  taken,  nor  would 
there  have  been  any  occasion  for  it.  The  Indian  Commission- 
ers undoubtedly  formed  it  when  the  Comanches  and  the  other 
tribes  came  to  the  settlements  to  trade,  or  perhaps  when  they 
all  lived  on  the  banks  of  the  river  Platte,  which  has  always 
belonged  to  the  United  States. 

The  inclination  of  these  Indians  to  plunder,  and  their  bad 
faith  in  the  observance  of  treaties,  which  they  respect  or  break 
arbitrarily  without  the  least  scruple,  involved  them  in  hostili- 
ties with  the  Texans,  and  in  1840  they  penetrated  into  the 
capital,  marking  their  path  with  bloodshed  as  far  as  the  bay  of 
Matagorda.  In  their  invasions  of  Mexico  they  had  proved 
their  strength,  of  which  they  now  gave  the  Texans  a specimen, 
but  afterwards  made  peace  with  them. 

For  the  better  understanding  of  the  mode  and  conditions  of 
this  warfare,  it  must  be  noted  that  the  United  States  had  grad- 
ually driv'en  the  Indians  of  Florida  and  the  other  Southern 
States  to  the  frontier,  and  placed  them  between  the  Arkansas, 
the  Red  river,  and  the  False  Wachita,  then  the  boundarv  with 
Mexico.  According  to  the  census  of  the  Commissioner  of  In- 
dian Affairs,  there  were  in  1843,  81,541  inhabitants  in  the 
above  territory,  Cherokees,  Choctaws,  Chickasaw's,  Creeks, 
Seminoles,  Kickapoos,  Potaw'attomies  and  others.  Rear  these 
tribes,  in  the  Wachita  mountains  of  Texas,  lived  the  Wacoes, 
Wachitas,  Towakanoes,  Caddos  or  Enyes,  scattered  along  the 
Red  riv'er,  neighbors  of  the  Indians  on  the  government  reser- 
vations. In  contact  with  all  these  tribes  were  the  Comanches, 
w'ith  their  following  of  small  subject  or  allied  tribes,  such  as 
the  Kiow'as,  Cheyennes,  Arapahoes  and  others,  while  the 
Apaches  were  then  living  farther  westw'ard,  between  the  Rio 
Pecos  and  the  Rio  Grande,  in  the  Sierra  Blanca  and  Organ 


248 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


mountains.  In  the  immense  region  between  the  Rio  Grande 
and  tlie  Arkansas,  these  savages  were  the  only  inhabitants  up 
to  1831,  when  the  eastern  tribes  were  removed  to  the  Indian 
Territory. 

The  Santa  Fe  trade  having  sprung  up  just  at  this  time,  the 
mercantile  caravans  began  to  traverse  the  plains  lying  between 
the  outposts  of  both  nations,  and  were  accompanied  by  escorts 
of  dragoons  from  Fort  Gibson  on  the  Missouri  river.  In  a 
work  written  in  1844  by  Josiah  Gregg,  which  was  published 
in  two  volumes,  entitled,  “The  Commerce  of  the  Prairies,”  in- 
teresting details  are  given  concerning  the  customs  of  the 
Indians,  and,  what  is  more  important  for  the  purposes  of  this 
Commission,  precious  data  are  afforded  in  explanation  of  the 
causes  and  origin  of  the  incursions  made  by  the  Comanches 
and  other  tribes  upon  Mexican  territory,  and  at  the  same  time 
the  motives  are  explained  which  rendered  such  depredations 
more  frequent  from  that  time  forward. 

In  1839,  Josiah  Gregg  and  other  American  traders  set  out 
on  a fourth  or  fifth  mercantile  expedition  to  Santa  Fe  and  Chi- 
huahua, in  order  to  profit  by  the  closure  of  the  Mexican  ports 
on  account  of  the  war  with  France.  In  describing  the  route, 
he  says  (page  18,  vol.  II) : 

“Just  at  hand  there  was  a beautiful  spring,  w'here,  in 
1835,  Col.  Mason  with  a force  of  United  States  troops  had 
a ‘big  talk’  and  still  bigger  ‘smoke’  with  a party  of  Coman- 
che and  Wachita  Indians.  Upon  the  same  site,  Col.  Cliou- 
teau  had  also  caused  to  be  erected,  not  long  after,  a little 
stockade  fort,  where  a considerable  trade  was  subsequently 
carried  on  wnth  the  Comanches  and  other  tribes  of  the  south- 
western prairies.  The  place  had  now  been  abandoned,  how- 
ever, since  the  preceding  winter.  * * * 'Wq  bad  not  been 

long  at  the  fort,  before  we  received  a visit  from  a party  of 
Comanches,  wdio,  having  heard  of  our  approach  came  to  greet 
us  a welcome,  on  the  supposition  that  it  was  their  friend  Chou- 
teau returning  to  the  fort  with  fresh  supplies  of  merchandise^ 
Great  was  their  grief  when  ^ve  informed  tliem  that  their  favor- 
ite trader  had  died  at  Fort  Gibson  the  previous  wfinter.” 

By  the  above  statement,  which  cannot  be  doubted  -when  we 
bear  in  mind  the  time  of  its  appearance  and  its  author,  it  is- 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


249 


shown  that  trade  with  the  Comanches  and  Wachitas  was  com- 
menced in  1835,  on  American  territory,  between  tlie  False 
Wachita  and  Canadian  rivers,  near  Fort  Holmes,  The  hopes 
of  profit,  or  the  impulse  arising  from  real  necessities,  en- 
gaged the  Indians  in  this  trade,  which,  it  must  be  repeated, 
was  initiated  by  an  ofiicer  of  the  United  States  army,  in  the 
sight  of  his  soldiers,  who  knew  that  the  articles  given  in  ex- 
change by  the  Indians  were  the  spoils  of  their  depredations 
upon  a friendly  nation. 

For  the  first  time  the  Comanches  learned  the  advantages  of 
this  lucrative  traffic;  for  the  first  time  they  found  sellers  of 
arms  and  ammunition,  and  purchasers  of  their  booty;  and 
henceforth  they  thought  only  of  new  invasions  and  new  depre- 
dations upon  their  southern  prey,  the  Mexican  settlements  then 
abounding  in  riches.  The  general  incursion  of  these  savage 
hordes  in  _ 1836,  into  the  flourishing  towns  in  the  districts 
of  Villaldama,  Monclova  and  Northern  Tamaulipas,  had  its 
real  origin  in  the  treaties  of  peace  made  by  Col.  Mason,  and 
the  mercantile  enterprise  of  Col.  Chouteau. 

It  has  been  stated  by  this  Commission,  upon  the  faith  of 
undeniable  data  found  in  abundance  in  the  archives  of  the 
military  “ Comandancias  ” of  the  eastern  provinces,  the  sav- 
ages had  never  passed  the  outer  line  of  posts.  If  they  com- 
mitted depredations,  they  all  proceeded  from  their  vindictive 
feeling  towards  the  new  settlers,  who  had  gradually  driven 
them  northwards  to  regions  not  formerly  their  own.  But 
while  the  Spanish  race  was  thus  repelling  these  tribes  north- 
ward, a counter-movement  commenced  in  the  northeast,  by 
which  the  Saxon  race,  in  turn,  dislodged  their  Indian  tribes 
and  drove  them  southward. 

A time  came  when  all  these  tribes  were  brought  together 
in  the  same  vicinity,  in  consequence  of  the  counter-movement 
referred  to.  The  Mexican  tribes  which  had  resisted  and  re- 
jected the  benefits  of  the  civilization  which  the  Spaniards  had 
proffered  them,  and  the  Northern  tribes  which,  although  ap- 
parently treated  with  more  policy  and  justice,  were  ultimately 
driven  back  by  a race  which  disdained  to  mingle  with  them, 
came  into  contact  in  1831,  at  which  time  many  American 


250 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


tribes  were  located  south  of  the  Missouri  and  the  Arkansas. 
From  this  vicinity  arose  a double  peril  and  a double  evil  for 
Mexican  settlements,  which  were  menaced  on  both  sides,  since 
the  Americans  indirectly  encouraged  robbery  by  their  trade, 
and  placed  near  the  Mexican  border  other  tribes  which,  though 
less  barbarous  and  initiated  in  some  of  the  habits  of  civiliza- 
tion, were  still  very  dangerous  neighbors  on  account  of  the 
natural  inclination  they  all  had  to  pillage  and  marauding. 

It  may  be  seen  that  not  merely  the  Texan  rebellion,  but 
the  conduct  of  the  American  Government,  powerfully  stimu- 
lated the  depredations  of  the  Comauches  and  their  associate 
tribes.  The  American  officials  tolerated,  permitted,  and,  it 
may  be  maintained,  even  fostered  and  protected  these  depre- 
dations. The  Comauches  and  the  Apaches  never  showed  so 
much  energy  in  evil-doing  as  was  observable  from  1836  on- 
ward ; that  is,  from  the  time  when  American  officers  had 
afforded  them  a market  for  bartering  the  spoils  of  their  incur- 
sions into  Mexico. 

In  1840,  the  irruption  of  thousands  of  savages  to  the 
vicinity  of  San  Luis  Fotosi,  who  also  visited  the  principal 
towns  of  Zacatecas,  caused  enormous  damage,  desolating  nu- 
merous haciendas  and  slaying  hundreds  of  victims.  This  took 
place  precisely  when  the  Mexican  Government  liad  on  its 
hands  the  war  in  Texas,  and  when  the  Comauches  were  stimu- 
lated by  the  mart  opened  for  their  plunder,  near  the  river 
Arkansas.  They  had  then  a motive  which  had  not  existed  in 
previous  years.  Their  contact  with  the  whites  created  necessi- 
ties they  had  never  known  before,  and  encouraged  them  to 
undertakings  foreign  to  the  mere  spirit  of  vengeance  on  ac- 
count of  the  seizure  of  their  lands,  which  was  the  first  cause 
of  their  hostilities  with  the  Spaniards,  and  afterwards  with  the 
Mexicans. 

The  Commission  does  not  here  express  a simple  opinion, 
but  a conviction  formed  by  a careful  study  of  the  facts.  Not- 
withstanding the  aptness  of  tlie  Indians  for  warfare,  their 
knowledge  of  the  country  acquired  with  the  greatest  case,  and 
their  skill  as  horsemen,  remarkable  above  all  among  the  Co- 
manches,  they  had  always  given  way  before  the  arms  and  dis- 


NORTHERX  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


251 


• cipliue  of  the  Mexican  troops,  whether  led  bj  Spanish  officers 
before  the  Independence  or  by  the  Mexican  officers  trained  in 
their  school.  The  killing  of  their  enemies  was  their  chief  ob- 
ject in  their  early  campaigns,  and  when  they  had  more  or  less 
success  at  the  outposts  of  our  lines,  they  stopped  tliei'e,  and 
returned  in  triumph,  with  the  scalps  of  their  victims  as 
trophies. 

But  as  soon  as  the  American  trade  sprang  up,  booty  became 
their  chief  object,  and  to  obtain  it  they  had  to  penetrate  with- 
in the  lines,  as  they  began  to  do,  favored  by  the  Texan  deserts 
and  the  plains  of  our  frontiers.  They  invaded  an  unknown 
country,  a region  they  had  never  traversed,  the  dangers  and 
difficulties  of  which  they  knew  not,  and  then  they  began  to 
collect  in  large  numbers,  and  organized  formal  expeditions. 
They  were  the  same  Indians  who  had  been  kept  at  bay  for  six 
years  by  Captain  Lopez,  with  250  men  stationed  between  Las 
Moras  and  San  Antonio  de  Bejar,  and  repeatedly  pursued  and 
defeated  whenever  they  had  attempted  an  incursion.  These 
same  troops  were  still  there,  and  in  greater  numbers,  for  the 
army  of  operations  against  Texas  was  in  that  vicinity  in  that 
year  (1836),  but  the  invasions  took  place  by  several  distinct 
routes. 

The  reorganization  of  the  defensive  companies,  which  Avas 
decreed  in  1826,  was  carried  into  effect  in  1829,  by  General 
Bustamante.  He  it  _was  who  had  stationed  the  forces  above 
mentioned,  under  Captain  Santiago  Lopez,  at  Las  Moras,  San 
Saba  and  the  springs  of  Leona,  AAdiich  had  given  six  or  seven 
years  of  peace  to  the  frontier,  during  Avhich  time  all  kinds  of 
cattle  had  largely  multiplied.  This  organization  still  existed, 
as  before  mentioned,  in  the  year  of  the  fii'st  great  Comanche 
incursion,  but  their  efforts  were  fruitless  ; the  savages  kept  out 
of  their  reach,  or  when  routed  in  small  parties,  fell  back  upon 
the  larger  masses,  and  effected  all  the  pillage  they  could  desire. 

The  gi’eat  change  Avhich  was  noted  in  the  conduct  of  the 
Indians  naturally  attracted  the  attention  of  military  men,  and 
they  could  only  explain  it  by  the  Texan  insurrection  ; but,  as 
Ave  have  seen,  Texas,  AA'as  itself  at  that  time  a prey  to  the 
ferocity  ot  these  savages. 


252 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


Much  blood  had  to  be  slied ; thousands  of  persons  have  * 
groaned  in  captivity  ; immense  riches  have  disappeared,  and 
many  years  of  unheard  of  calamity  have  passed,  before  the 
real  cause  was  discovei’ed. 

The  American  Government,  by  driving  to  the  west  the 
Indian  nations  expelled  from  several  States  through  greed  of 
their,  lands,  and  by  locating  them  on  the  frontiers  of  Mexico, 
gave  rise  to  a new  situation,  which  was  imperfectly  understood 
by  that  government,  and  a great  evil  was  thereby  inflicted 
upon  Mexico,  who  quickly  suffered  therefrom.  From  what- 
ever light  this  new  condition  of  the  Indians  in  the  western 
plains  be  examined,  their  incursions  into  Mexico,  which  began 
at  the  time  of  the  location  of  the  other  tribes  on  the  Arkansas 
river,  were  the  real  and  necessary  result  of  that  measure. 
Without  it,  it  is  impossible  to  explain  their  sudden  bravery,  or 
their  peculiar  comportment  in  their  depredations,  utterly  dif- 
ferent from  all  that  had  been  previously  observed. 

Before  this  time,  the  Indians  had  made  assaults,  had  spied 
and  surprised  the  encampments,  but  they  did  not  approach 
the  towns  except  at  night,  and  for  the  purpose  of  robbing 
cattle.  From  this  time  onward,  they  formed  their  camps  by 
day,  in  open  view,  besieging  the  viljages,  and  even  carrying 
ofi*  captives.  This  was  done  by  the  Comanches  between  San 
Buenaventura  and  Nadadores,  in  the  district  of  Monclova, 
encamping  between  the  two  towns,  which  are  less  than  a 
league  apart ; they  did  the  same  at  Saltillo,  approaching  that 
city  by  the  high  road,  and  in  like  manner  at  Bustamante  in 
Nuevo  Leon,  and  at  Salinas  Victoria,  before  which  towns  they 
deliberately  encamped,  defying  the  power  of  the  inhabitants 
and  of  the  government  itself,  which  could  only  assemble  its 
troops  in  their  rear,  after  they  had  all  united  together  to  carry 
ofl’  their  enormous  booty.  Then,  at  last,  the  soldiers  of  the 
military  companies  attacked  them,  six  leagues  from  San 
Fernando,  at  Pozo,  now  Zaragoza,  routed  them  completely, 
recovering  all  the  spoils,  and  the  captives  which  they  had 
brought  from  the  outskirts  of  San  Luis  Potosi. 

When  General  Arista  had  his  headquarters  in  these  towns, 
the  Indians  did  not  hesitate  to  attack  detachments  of  his  array 


NORTHERN'  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


253 


accompanied  by  the  frontier  militia,  and  it  was  very  evident 
that  they  were  carrying  out  a regular  plan,  which  perhaps  they 
had  not  themselves  conceived. 

In  their  investigations  the  Commissioners  have  collected 
the  facts  bearing  upon  Indian  incursions  from  beginning  to 
end,  and  the  differing  phases  which  this  warfare  has  presented 
along  the  entire  extent  of  the  frontier.  They  have  foreseen 
that  from  this  series  of  facts  something  would  be  discovered, 
which  would  explain  their  causes,  and  that  this  explanation 
would  be  found  only  by  penetrating,  as  they  have  done,  into 
the  very  lodges  of  the  Indians.  From  such  premises,  im- 
portant results  have  been  deduced,  and  it  is  believed  that  the 
general  statements  already  made  will  be  confirmed  in  all  their 
fullness  by  the  examination  of  the  period  more  especially 
intrusted  to  the  Commission,  i.  e.,  the  twenty-five  years  which 
have  elapsed  from  1818  to  the  present  time. 

The  evils  suffered  during  this  period  are  immense,  greater 
even  than  those  which  have  just  been  summarily  sketched. 
The  Commission,  in  order  to  present  the  picture  of  the  mis- 
fortunes of  this  period,  although  it  has  taken  the  testimony  of 
many  witnesses,  has  employed  it  merely  as  a guide  to  the 
examination  of  the  archives,  in  which  it  has  found  all  that 
could  be  asked  for.  These  documents  will  speak  for  them- 
selves, and  while  they  show  the  greatness  of  the  evils,  they 
also  prove  the  strenuous  efforts  of  the  authorities  to  remove 
them,  and  their  despair  at  finding  themselves  impotent  to 
remedy  them  from  causes  far  beyond  their  reach.  The  losses 
suffered  through  Indian  depredations  differing  greatly  according 
to  their  respective  localities,  and  the  measures  taken  for  their 
repression  differing  in  like  manner,  good  order  and  clearness 
require  that  these  depredations  be  treated  separately  in  regard 
to  the  States  which  have  come  within  the  scope  of  the  Com- 
mission’s labors. 


INDIAN  HOSTILITIES  IN  TAMAULIPAS  FEOAI  1818. 

The  great  riches  which  the  towns  of  Tamaulipas  had  ac- 
quired in  lands  and  cattle,  between  the  Rio  Nueces  and  the 


254 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


Rio  Grande,  were  almost  annihilated — first  by  the  Texan  war, 
and  afterward  by  that  with  the  United  States. 

That  portion  of  the  territory  of  Taraanlipas  began  anew, 
after  the  American  war,  to  be  stocked  with  cattle  by  the  landed 
proprietors  residing  on  the  right  or  Mexican  bank  of  the  Rio 
Grande.  They  had  barely  began  to  establish  their  ranchos, 
when  they  again  experienced  the  depredations  of  the  Indians. 

The  town  of  Reynosa*  was  one  of  the  first;  the  judge  in 
charge  of  one  of  its  ranchos  reported  that,  on  the  12th  of  April, 
1849,  a cattle  station  belonging  to  a citizen  of  that  town  had 
been  assaulted  by  savages  from  the  American  side  of  the  river, 
who  had  killed  two  servants,  a man  and  a woman,  and  had  car- 
ried captive  three  men  and  one  woman. 

On  the  4th  of  May  of  the  same  year,  Indians  again  appeared 
in  the  same  municipality,  robbing  cattle,  which  were  carried 
across  the  river.  Similar  invasions  were  renewed  on  the  11th 
of  June  and  the  27th  of  August  of  that  year,  and  it  appears  by 
the  ofiicial  reports  that  the  Comanches  encamped  on  the  Texan 
bank,  cut  off  communication  with  Brownsville,  to  whose  inhab- 
itants the  Mexican  authorities  sent  timely  notice  of  the  presence 
of  Indians  in  their  vicinity.  The  alcalde  of  Reynosa  addressed 
the  American  consul  at  Matamoros  for  this  purpose. 

Hostilities  were  suspended  until  1856,  when  the  mayor  of 
Matamoros,  being  informed  of  the  presence  of  Indians  near  Rey- 
nosa, sent  a detachment  of  soldiers  in  their  pursuit.  The 
amount  of  damage  done  in  this  incursion,  which  was  the  last, 
does  not  appear,  but  it  would  seem  to  have  been  considerable 
from  the  promptitude  with  which  troops  and  ammunition  were 
sent,  and  the  dispatch  of  a militia  force  in  aid  of  the  regular 
troops. 

The  action  of  the  Mexican  authorities  in  repelling  the  inva- 
sions which  had  attacked  Reynosa  from  Texan  territory  was 
prompt  and  efficacious,  not  only  in  protecting  their  own  citi- 
zens, bnt  also  those  of  Texas,  to  Avhose  authorities  notice  was 

* In  the  Spanish  text,  reference  is  made  in  each  paragraph  to  the  “ expediente,” 
or  collection  of  documents  -where  the  proofs  of  the  facts  are  found ; these  references 
are  suppressed  in  the  English  -version,  as  unnecessary  for  the  American  reader. 
Ahtc  of  Ihe  translator. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


255 


sent,  enabling  them  to  guard  against  a surprise.  Tlie  solicitude 
of  the  government  went  so  far  as  to  urge  the  sutferers  to  fur- 
nish evidence  of  their  losses,  so  as  to  obtain  indemnification,  but 
it  does  not  appear  that  any  one  took  that  step.  Undoubtedly 
the  sufferers  were  away  from  home,  and  the  Commission  takes 
note  of  their  conduct  as  an  evidence  of  their  spirit  of  honesty. 

The  city  of  Camargo,  situated  farther  north,  and  with 
greater  possessions  on  both  banks  of  the  Rio  Grande,  suffered 
greater  damage  than  Reynosa,  on  account  of  the  greater  num- 
ber of  invasions,  and  the  difficulties  they  encountered  at  the 
hands  of  the  American  authorities,  when  they  solicited  the  re- 
turn of  cattle  recaptured  from  the  Indians  on  American  soil. 
In  this  town,  as  in  Reynosa,  the  investigation  has  been  limited 
to  an  examination  of  its  archives.  They  afford  a good  idea  of 
the  amount  of  suffering  from  Indians,  who  always  came  from 
Texan  territory,  and  have  furnished  interesting  data  for  the  his- 
tory of  the  terms  of  intercourse  kept  up  between  the  two  fron- 
tiers, and  the  manner  in  which  the  authorities  on  both  sides 
fulfilled  the  duties  of  their  posts. 

Camargo  having  been  invaded  on  the  4th  of  April  and  5th 
of  May,  1849,  the  Indians  recrossed  the  river  to  Texas,  where 
they  were  pursued  by  Texan  soldiei’s  or  citizens,  and  their  booty 
recaptured.  The  Mexican  sufferers  having  been  unsuccessful 
in  reclaiming  their  property,  they  made  a statement  of  the  facts 
to  the  Ayuntamiento  (Common  Council)  of  Camargo,  and  that 
body,  in  an  extra  session,  voted  to  address  the  State  govern- 
ment, requesting  it  to  make  known  the  case  to  the  President  of 
the  republic,  and  in  this  connection  asked  “that  the  interpreta- 
tion of  the  last  clause  of  the  2d  paragraph  in  Article  XI  of  the 
Treaty  of  Peace  with  the  United  States,  signed  on  the  2d  of 
February  of  last  year — which  guarantees  the  property  robbed  by 
Indians  in  Mexican  territory — may  be  made  known ; and 
whether  this  guaranty  does  not  extend  to  property  robbed  from 
Mexicans  within  the  limits  of  the  territory  which,  by  that  treaty, 
was  ceded  to  the  United  States,  which  property,  although  fully 
guaranteed,  is  in  danger  of  abandonment,  from  lack  of  security  ; 
and  whether  there  is  any  enactment  in  the  United  States  which 
declares  the  spoils  carried  off  by  hostile  Indians  from  Mexican 


256 


REPORT  OF  COMJtfITTEE. 


citizens  to  be  a lawful  prize  when  recaptured  from  them,  since 
respect  for  law  alone  can,  in  such  case,  prevent  disturbances 
from  occurring  between  the  owners  and  the  recapturers  of  such 
property^'’ 

Soon  after  these  complaints,  the  authorities  of  Reynosa  re- 
quested those  of  Camargo  to  inform  the  military  commander  in 
Starr  county  of  these  robberies  of  cattle,  and  to  urge  him  to 
take  measures  for  the  fulfilment  of  Article  XI  of  the  Treaty  of 
Guadalupe  Hidalgo. 

The  bimplc  statement  of  a complaint,  made  in  the  above  ex- 
tract, is  the  best  commentary  that  can  be  made  upon  the  fact 
of  Indian  depredations,  since  it  clearly  shows  a complete  neg- 
lect of  treaty  obligation,  and  a great  indifference  on  the  part 
of  the  American  autliorities,  as  was  stated  by  the  First  Court 
of  Camargo,  on  the  11th  of  March,  1851,  in  a communication 
addressed  to  General  Avalos  : “The  Indians  had  made  an  at- 
tack upon  ‘Las  Cuevas  ’ from  the  opposite  eliore,  and  had  not 
been  puisued,  although  they  had  killed  a settler,  because  they 
were  on  the  territory  of  the  neighboring  nation,  where  they 
had  not  been  pursued.” 

With  this  conduct  of  the  American  authorities,  in  keeping 
Mexican  property  recaptured  from  Indians,  or  failing  to  attack 
them  when  on  American  soil,  the  Mexican  towns  afforded 
a striking  contrast,  distinguishing  themselves,  although  still 
suffering  extreme  misery  as  the  result  of  the  recent  war,  by 
their  zeal  in  punishing  the  Indians,  for  which  purpose  the 
armed  citizens  and  the  permanent  troops  marched  in  every  di- 
rection. 

From  Matamoros,  where  the  Avalos  brigade  was  stationed, 
there  were  thrown  out,  by  orders  of  its  commander,  detach- 
ments which  hastened  to  Reynosa,  Camargo,  Mier,  Guerrero 
and  Nuevo  Laredo,  to  aid  in  all  movements  against  the  barba- 
rians. The  State  Government,  with  commendable  care,  ob- 
tained arms,  ammunition  and  provisions  for  the  same  object, 
and  stimulated  the  towns  to  action,  and  to  bear  their  losses 
with  patience,  until  a radical  remedy  could  be  applied,  which 
remedy,  as  is  seen  from  all  its  communications  with  the  local 


NORTHERN  FRO^’TIER  QUESTION. 


257 


authorities,  was  to  be  found  in  the  exact  fulfillment  of  the 
treaty  of  Guadalupe. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  Mexican  bank  of  the  ricer  being  thus 
ever  on  the  alert,  they  did  not  wait  to  be  attacked  before  taking 
every  measure  of  precaution.  At  the  least  information  of  an 
Indian  invasion  on  the  Texas  side,  orders  were  sent  to  the 
judges  in  charge  of  the  ranchos,  to  watch  the  fords  and  prevent 
the  passage  of  the  Indians.  Speedy  communications  were  sent 
from  town  to  town  with  news  of  every  incursion,  and  since  it 
could  not  be  prevented,  as  coming  from  foreign  territory,  its 
eflects  were  mitigated  by  timely  warning  to  those  who  were 
immediately  endanger(^. 

The  superior  authority  of  the  IS^orthern  District  was  con- 
stantly attentive  to  the  invasions  in  Camargo  and  other  towns 
of  the  line,  and  in  reporting  to  the  State  Government  those  of 
February  28th  and  March  1st,  1851,  stated  that  it  did  so  in 
order  that  they  might  be  communicated  to  the  IS^ational  Gov- 
ernment, so  as  to  demand  of  the  American  Government  the 
fulfillment  of  the  treaty  of  Guadalupe.  Private  individuals  and 
authorities  clamored  daily  against  that  govm’nment,  for  failure 
to  observe  the  treaty,  and  for  notorious  infractions  of  it,  since 
the  Indians  were  neither  forced  to  return  their  spoil,  nor  were 
prevented  from  crossing  the  river  to  commit  their  usual  depre- 
dations. 

The  leading  citizens  of  our  towns  on  the  Rio  Grande  being 
proprietors  of  ranchos  in  Texas,  the  prevailing  insecurity  in 
that  State  frerpiently  endangered  not  only  their  property,  but 
their  lives,  and  the  authorities  of  the  Mexican  shore  were  ac- 
customed to  take  action  in  their  behalf  A case  which  oc- 
curred to  Don  Xieves  Yillareal  will  illustrate  this.  It  was 
stated  to  the  First  Judge  at  Camargo,  by  the  justice  of  the 
rancho  of  Fresnos,  in  the  following  terms  : “ At  this  moment, 
1 p.  M.,  Antonio  Cano,  servant  of  Don  Rieves  Yillareal,  has 
just  appeared  on  the  opposite  bank,  wounded  by  an  arrow  by 
the  savages,  this  morning,  at  ‘ Clavellinas,’  a point  in  Texas  a 
league  from  the  river,  and  says  that  he  does  not  know  where 
his  master  is;  and  as,  in  my  opinion,  the  said  Yillareal  may 
have  fallen  a victim,  I not  only  inform  you,  but  have  taken 
17 


258 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


every  step  in  my  power  to  find  and  assist  him,  placing  armed 
men  all  along  the  line  to  jrroteet  families  crossing  the  river 
from  the  other  side.” 

Tlie  above  commniiication  being  dated  August  21st,  1853, 
it  is  apparent  that  the  condition  of  the  frontier  had  not  im- 
proved in  five  years,  and  that  the  Mexicans  residing  in  Ameri- 
can territory  found  their  best  protection  from  the  Mexican 
side.  The  facts  are  that  the  depredations  Avere  common  to 
both  banks,  and  in  the  region  in  question  were  more  frequent 
on  the  Texas  side.  The  natural  explanation  of  this  is,  that  the 
property  of  the  landowners,  though  residing  on  both  sides  of 
the  river,  was  chiefly  in  Texas,  and  they’  losses  were  therefore 
unrecorded.  It  is  beyond  doubt  that  at  this  time  there  were 
no  American  stock  raisers  in  this  region,  tliey  being  the  only 
ones  who  calculate  and  exaggerate  such  losses,  and  the  only 
ones  who  get  any  attention. 

There  was  a lull  of  three  years  for  Cainargo,  and  no  further 
incursion  is  recorded  until  1856,  when  two  men  were  killed  and 
a boy  captured.  lie  was  retaken  by  the  energetic  action  of 
the  forces  of  Camafgo,  in  conjunction  with  those  of  Mier  and 
Aldamas,  a town  in  Huevo  Leon. 

The  forces  of  the  invaded  towns  now  appear  for  the  first 
time  in  joint  action,  pursuing  tlie  retreating  Indians  as  well  as 
the  Rio  Grande  barrier  permitted  ; and  when  the  savages  di- 
vided into  smaller  parties  they  did  the  same,  even  lying  in  am- 
bush, at  times,  at  strategical  points. 

In  relating  above,  very  briefly,  the  incursions  made  in 
Camargo  and  Reynosa  since  1848,  the  Commission  has  not 
paused  to  calculate  the  amount  of  damages,  because  it  is  not 
fully  specified  in  the  documents  they  have  consulted,  and  which 
are  collected  in  the  proper  expe  Rente.  It  will  be  understood, 
however,  that,  apart  from  the  loss  of  life,  the  value  of  Avhieh 
cannot  be  properly  estimated,  and  apart  from  the  pro])erty 
stolen  or  destroyed  in  each  incursion,  one  of  the  gravest  dam- 
ages has  been  the  suspension  of  every  kind  of  industry,  and  the 
lack  of  confidence  in  beginning  afresh,  arising  from  the  inse- 
curity of  the  fruits  of  labors,  Avhich  if  once  carried  across  the 
I’Aer  by  the  savages,  would  never  be  recovered,  even  if  I’ecap- 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


259 


tured  from  the  enemy.  Of  this  fact  one  sad  experience  has 
been  related.  Fortunately  it  was  not  repeated  on  account  of 
the  infrequent  pursuit  of  the  savages  by  the  Americans,  other- 
wise the  anticipated  conflict  might  have  occurred  between 
owners  and  recapturers  of  Indian  booty.  It  is  a poor  satisfac- 
tion which  one  can  set  from  the  fact  of  no  sucli  conflict  having: 
ever  taken  place ! 

Before  passing  to  the  invasions  of  other  towns  in  Tamau- 
lipas,  the  Commission  feels  bound  to  say  in  just  praise  of  their 
inhabitants,  that  in  view  of  the  evils  with  which  they  were 
threatened  by  savages,  tliey  always  adopted  very  efficacious 
preventive  measures,  keeping  watch  for  their  first  appearance, 
which  they  rapidly  made  known  to  the  lierdsmen,  enabling 
them  generally  to  call  in  the  scattering  men  and  animals,  and 
that  they  made  great  sacrifices  for  the  recovery  of  stolen  prop- 
erty. Neither  authorities  nor  citizens  ever  bethought  them- 
selves of  the  obligations  contracted  by  the  American  govern- 
ment, concerning  indemnification  for  or  return  of  stolen  prop- 
erty, and  whenever  any  depredations  were  made  it  was  through 
absolute  impossibility  of  preventing  it.  In  consideration  of  the 
power  and  wealth  of  the  United  States,  and  the  justice  with 
Avhich  the  American  government  has  almost  always  tried  to 
proceed,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  conduct  of  these  Mexican 
towns  is  highly  commendable. 

It  should  be  noted  in  passing,  that  during  the  five  years 
passed  in  review,  the  Indian  invasions  made  in  Texas  were  still 
more  numerous  than  in  Mexico,  and  no  voice  was  ever  raised 
to  attribute  them  to  the  Seminoles,  who  then  resided  in  Mexico 
with  a few  Kickapoos,  although  they  traversed  all  this  region, 
according  to  their  customs,  in  quest  of  game.  The  cause  of 
this  will  be  hereafter  explained. 

As  the  Commission  advances  farther  north  in  its  examina- 
tion of  the  depredations  committed  by  the  savages,  it  will  have 
to  linger  longer  at  each  town,  to  relate  evils  steadily  increasing 
in  magnitude.  This  will  be  manifest  at  Mier,  in  which  city  it 
was  necessary,  as  before,  to  be  content  with  the  information 
found  in  the  archives.  These  were  not  found  complete,  owing 
to  local  disturbances,  but  the  existing  part  gives  a perfect  idea 


260 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


of  the  magnitude  of  the  Indian  depredations  upon  the  property 
on  both  sides  the  river,  held  by  those  numerous  citizens  who, 
as  before  remarked,  are  land  owners  in  both  countries. 

In  this  town  and  the  preceding  ones,  the  Commission  formed 
registers  of  losses  upon  affidavits  of  the  sufferers,  witli  the  only 
object  of  obtaining  a statement  of  damages  which  it  might 
A'erify  by  further  examination.  It  endeavored  thus  to  combine 
the  interests  of  private  individuals,  whose  complaints  could 
only  be  entertained  in  this  way,  Avith  the  duties  of  the  Com- 
mission, urgently  summoned  to  other  places,  and  unable  to 
devote  the  necessary  time  for  the  study  of  private  losses  in 
the  records. 

For  sixteen  years  the  city  of  Mier  Avas  constantly  struggling 
Avith  the  calamity  of  the  Indian  Avar.  It  Avas  four  times  in- 
vaded in  1848,  between  June  and  December,  although  it  had 
organized  a half  company  of  National  Guards  for  the  repulse 
of  the  Indians,  who  in  that  year  killed  five  persons,  carried  six 
captive,  and  took  all  the  horses  they  could  find.  In  the 
reports  of  these  losses  made  to  the  Mayor  of  Matamoros,  com- 
plaint is  made  that  all  efforts  of  citizens  and  soldiers  were 
futile,  “ because  the  Indians,  as  usual,  repassed  the  Rio 
Grande.”  The  municipality  wrote  to  the  member  of  Congress 
for  the  district,  and  in  summing  up  the  evils  then  suffered, 
said  : 

“ The  chief  is  the  constant  invasion  by  savages,  who  yes- 
terday had  the  audacity  to  come  Avithin  a mile  to  the  south  of 
this  city.” 

During  the  above  mentioned  period  the  city  of  Mier  was 
twenty  times  invaded.  Its  citizens  were  moreover  frequently 
slaughtered  at  the  cattle  stations  by  assaidts  from  the  other  side 
of  the  river,  Avhere  the  Indians  organized,  obtained  arms  and 
ammunition,  and  passed  over  to  employ  them  against  Mexicans. 

The  documents  examined  by  the  Commission  leave  no  doubt 
that,  in  all  these  cases,  the  Indians  came  from  Texas.  It  is 
seven  times  mentioned  that  their  coming  Avas  preceded  by  their 
presence  on  the  other  side,  which  Avas  knoAvn  beforehand,  be- 
cause the  inhabitants  of  Mier,  then  as  now,  had  many  ranchos 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


261 


in  Texas.  Several  times  the  Comanclies  were  seen  crossing 
the  Rio  Grande  right  in  front  of  the  town.  Many  other  times 
they  were  seen  opposite,  and  it  does  not  appear  that  they  were 
ever  pursued,  or  in  any  way  obliged  to  return  their  booty  to 
citizens  of  Mexico.  On  the  contrary,  the  latter  suffered  daih'- 
outrages  which  must  have  been  very  trying,  when  they  resolved 
to  make  a statement  to  the  minister  of  war,  to  whom,  on  the 
29th  of  July,  1852,  they  wrote  as  follows  : 

“ It  is  of  public  notoriety  from  daily  recurring  instances, 
which  have  been  proven  before  American  authorities,  that  in 
the  towns  on  the  Texan  side  of  the  Rio  Grande  there  are  daily 
brought  our  horses,  mules,  cattle  and  utensils  of  agriculture, 
and  notwithstanding  the  proved  fact  of  their  having  been 
stolen  by  Indians,  or  by  well  known  thieves  of  both  countries, 
whom  we  can  point  out  individually  ; notwithstanding  the  aid 
of  the  American  authorities  has  been  implored  for  the  recovery 
of  our  property,  they  have  closed  the  door  to  our  complaints, 
in  open  violation  of  Article  XI,  of  the  treaty  of  Guadalupe 
Hidalgo.” 

The  horrible  and  hopeless  condition  of  affairs  depicted  by 
the  citizens  of  Mier,  in  the  preceding  paragraph,  had  been  ap- 
proaching for  years,  and  the  State  Government  had  so  under- 
stood, when  on  the  23d  of  March,  1850,  it  wrote  to  the  Ayunta- 
miento  of  that  city,  as  follows : “ The  northern  towns,  which 
have  always  been  harassed  by  Indians,  are  now  in  an  unusu- 
ally difficult  position  on  account  of  the  neighborhood  of  the 
United  States,  which  country  permits  the  Indians  to  buy  arms 
and  ammunition  at  low  prices  to  enable  them  to  wage  war 
against  peaceful  citizens  of  Mexico.” 

This  assertion  was  based,  by  the  State  Government,  on  data 
which  this  Commission  has  not  seen,  but  which  probably  are 
found  in  the  archives  of  Ciudad  Victoria.  It  has  been  con- 
firmed by  a dispatch  from  the  Judge  of  Guerrero  to  the  court 
at  Mier,  dated  January  23d,  1853,  stating  the  appearance  of  a 
party  of  Indians  from  San  Ignacio,  Texas,  all  armed  with  car- 
bines, undoubtedly  bought  in  the  United  States  where  they 
resided,  and  where,  only,  they  could  have  been  obtained. 

The  large  number  of  lives  lost  during  these  years,  notwith- 


262 


EEPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


standing  all  the  precautions  taken,  and  the  numerous  captives 
carried  to  American  territory,  afford  an  idea  of  the  cruelty  of 
this  warfare.  The  reports  made  by  the  officers  sent  to  pursue 
the  savages,  generally  state  that  their  efforts  had  been  frustrated 
by  the  enemy  having  recrossed  the  Eio  Grande,  and  these  re- 
ports well  depict  the  situation  as  regards  an  enemy  which  ap- 
pears to  have  understood  the  situation,  and  which  certainly 
profited  by  it. 

In  view  of  the  data  collected  and  arranged,  the  Commis- 
sion could  not  omit  to  mention  a circumstance  which  has  had 
much  influence  in  increasing  the  loss  of  life  and  property  in 
the  Mexican  settlements  on  the  Rio  Bravo.  The  Indians  were 
not  punished,  and  could  not  be,  except  when  they  penetrated 
far  enough  inland  to  be  overtaken  before  reaching  their  strong- 
holds. It  is  thus  explained  that,  although  troops  were  kept  in 
readiness  to  march  at  the  first  news  of  an  incursion,  they  were 
able  only  three  times  to  punish  the  Indians.  These  engage- 
ments took  place  near  Aldamas  and  Cerralvo,  towns  of  Ruevo 
Leon,  fifteen  or  twenty  leagues  from  the  river. 

As  to  the  conduct  of  the  national  and  State  governments  in 
aid  of  the  sufferers,  it  should  be  mentioned  that  a company  of 
troops  was  stationed  at  Mier  in  1848,  which  was  soon  reinforced 
by  the  organization  of  four  more  companies  of  National  Guards, 
which,  in  connection  with  the  permanent  troops,  made  expe- 
ditions against  the  savages,  going  in  quest  of  them  as  far  as 
their  places  of  defense  or  of  assembly  on  their  incursions. 

Arms,  money,  exemptions  from  imposts,  were  lavished  for 
the  alleviation  of  sufferers,  and  as  a last  resort  the  lower  author- 
ities petitioned  for  the  strict  fulfillment  of  the  treaty  of  Guada- 
lupe, attributing,  with  truth,  their  ruin  to  the  infraction  of 
that  instrument. 

In  their  solicitude  to  put  an  end  to  intolerable  sufferings, 
the  towns  associated  together  by  means  of  their  authorities, 
and  appointed  special  commissioners  for  their  defense,  which 
from  1850,  after  a careful  study  of  the  evil,  was  systematized 
with  good  results.  This  measure  originated  in  the  interior 
States  and  towns,  and  is  here  mentioned  only  to  show  the  ex- 
tent of  the  evil  and  the  unity  of  its  origin. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


2G3 


In  the  city  of  CrueiTero,  twelve  leagues  north  of  Mier,  the 
Commission  was  astonished  at  the  magnitude  of  the  losses  sus- 
tained by  that  place  from  the  outset.  Here  it  was  deemed 
necessary  to  go  beyond  the  examination  of  the  public  archives, 
and  add  to  their  extracts  therefrom  such  information  as  could 
be  obtained  from  respectable  witnesses,  who  have  suffered 
great  damages,  and  have  passed  much  of  their  lives  in  warfare 
against  the  Indians,  as  officers  of  the  militia  companies  which 
have  always  been  organized  for  that  purpose. 

The  Commission  also  found  here  a multitude  of  townspeople 
who  had  recently  returned  from  captivity  among  the  Indians, 
and  resolved  to  obtain  their  testimony  as  to  the  tribes  and 
places  of  residence  of  their  captors,  and  all  that  they  had  seen 
among  them,  giving  especial  attention  to  the  means  by  which 
they  recovered  their  liberty.  With  double  reason,  it  was 
thought  fitting  to  obtain  the  testimony  of  many  citizens  of 
Guerrero  who  have  taken  an  active  part  in  the  pursuit  of  the 
Indians,  not  only  at  home,  but  in  Texas  itself,  in  the  recent  in- 
vasions which  were  made  in  that  State. 

Guerrero  has  experienced  more  than  sixty  invasions  in  a 
brief  term  of  years,  and  in  the  long  list  of  deaths,  there  was  not 
a single  year  in  which  victims  of  Indians  were  not  registered, 
some  of  them  killed  at  “La  Costa,”  in  Texas.  Seventy-eight 
persons  were  killed  by  Indians  between  1818  and  1865,  more 
than  half  of  whom  were  heads  of  families.  In  1818,  1850,  and 
1853,  it  is  stated  of  certain  victims  that  they  were  killed  at 
“ La  Costa,”  in  Texas,  thus  confirming  the  information  sent  to 
the  authorities  of  Reynosa,  and  by  them  communicated  to  the 
American  consul. 

The  only  years  since  1818  in  which  regular  incursions  were 
not  made  were  1860  and  1861,  and  the  registers  show  murders 
by  Indians  almost  every  month.  This,  indeed,  is  readily  in- 
ferred from  the  fact  that  one  of  the  first  measures  of  the  gov- 
enment  of  Tamanlipas,  on  its  reorganization  after  the  war,  was 
to  equip  a half  company  of  National  Guards,  which  was  con- 
stantly employed  in  pursuit  of  the  savages.  As  these  were  not 
enough,  the  citizens  of  Guerrero  voluntarily  undertook  a cam- 
paign with  110  men,  in  addition  to  contingents  furnished  by 


261 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


other  towns  on  tlieir  invitation.  A march  of  sixty  leagues  to 
the  supposed  hiding  places  of  tlic  Indians  had  no  other  result 
than  to  prove  that  tlie  enemy  was  not  there,  but  in  Texas, 
whence  it  had  first  come. 

An  evident  proof  of  tliis  latter  fact  is  found  in  the  persons 
killed  at  “ La  Costa,”  as  above  mentioned,  in  the  notice  sent 
by  the  authorities  of  Auevo  Laredo  to  the  other  towns  along 
the  Eio  Grande,  of  the  appearance  of  the  Indians  at  San  Ig- 
nacio, Texas,  armed  with  carbines,  and  in  their  constantly  pass- 
ing the  river  at  the  point  called  “Pan,”  when  coming  from 
the  north  of  Texas.  And  what  removed  all  doubt  as  to  the 
sources  of  these  incursions,  was  the  notices  sent  by  officers  of 
the  American  army  to  the  authorities  of  .Guerrero,  informing 
them  that  the  Indians  were  crossing  the  river.  On  the  21st  of 
June,  1853,  General  Cruz,  in  command  at  Matamoros,  was  in- 
formed by  his  subordinate  at  Guerrero,  as  follows : “ On  the 
ISth  instant  I received  from  the  captain  on  the  left  hank  of  the 
river,  information  that  be  had  that  day  overtaken  the  party  of 
Indians  marauding  near  the  rancho  Garceno,  and  that  said  In- 
dians were  crossing  the  river  to  the  right  bank  at  Golondrinas.” 

The  Commission  observes  with  regret  that  in  five  years 
transpiring  from  the  treaty  of  peace  and  the  assumption  by  the 
American  government  of  the  obligation  to  restrain  Indian  in- 
vasions, the  authorities  in  Texas  had  not  even  opened  commu- 
nications with  their  Mexican  neighbors,  notwithstanding  con- 
stant Indian  incursions  in  both  countries,  and  the  notice  quoted 
above  is  the  first  of  its  kind. 

The  losses,  however,  had  been  so  severe  in  the  preceding 
years,  that  the  president  of  the  city  council,  writing  to  the 
mayor  on  the  23d  of  November,  1850,  says : “ Since  you  left 
this  city,  there  have  not  passed  two  days  without  inroads,  kill- 
ing shepherds  and  cowherds.  * * * Within  six  days  there 

have  been  three  killed  and  two  dangerously  wounded,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  horses  and  mules  carried  otf  by  the  wretches.” 

On  the  8th  of  July,  1851,  the  Garza  family  was  attacked  and 
exterminated  by  a group  of  Indians  on  the  road  to  their  rancho  ; 
and  on  the  31st  of  tlie  same  month  the  council  informed  the 
government  that  “from  January  to  the  end  of  July  the  In- 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


265 


dians  had  killed  more  than  twenty  townspeople.  In  July  alone 
they  have  killed  eight,  wounded  nine,  and  carried  off  a boy, 
not  counting  seven  men  wounded  and  one  killed  the  same  day, 
belonging  to  the  party  of  Don  Juan  Manuel  Zapata,  who  Avas 
also  killed,  the  Indians  losing  three  killed  and  two  thrown  into 
the  river,  by  crossing  which  the  remainder  escaped  to  the 
Texan  shore.” 

On  the  27th  of  January,  1851,  the  rancho  “ Moros  ” and 
others  on  the  banks  of  the  Salado  were  attacked,  a herdsman 
severely  wounded,  and  all  the  horses  in  that  region  carried  off. 
“ At  the  same  time,”  adds  the  president,  of  tlie  council  in  a 
dispatch  to  the  Governor  of  the  State,  a large  party  of 
Indians  crossed  the  river  from  the  left  bank,  killed  Crisanto 
Vela,  and  wounded  a wagoner  on  the  road  leading  to  Rome  in 
Texas;  on  the  25th  they  returned  carrying  off  many  horses.” 

The  same  Avritei’,  referring  to  the  preceding  account,  which 
had  also  been  sent  to  the  prefect  of  Matamoros,  said  to  that 
officer  on  the  Jth  of  February  : 

“Yesterday  the  citizen  Juan  Gonzalez  and  his  son  Pablo, 
who  was  made  captive  on  the  27th,  presented  themselves; 
and  the  latter  says,  that  he  was  a witness  of  the  events 
stated  in  the  communication  of  the  27th  of  January ; that 
the  Indians  concerned  were  nine  in  number;  that  there 
are  twenty-three  Indians  and  two  squaws  now  collected 
at  a place  which  is  probably  that  called  ‘ La  Oracion  ’ 
that  they  speak  our  language  very  well ; that  they  told 
him  that  they  are  Comanches;  that  they  are  dressed  like 
white  people  with  blouses,  jackets  and  pants,  with  good  hats; 
that  they  said  they  were  great  friends  of  the  Americans  ; that 
they  had  three  rifles,  a gun  and  a revolver,  and  had  somewhere 
near  a hundred  horses  and  mules.” 

These  calamities  could  not  be  desci'ibed  in  more  simple  and 
expressive  terms.  They  depict  the  situation  in  such  lively 
colors,  that  when  we  reflect  that  it  has  been  the  same  for 
almost  twenty  years,  we  cannot  fully  appreciate  the  sufferings 
of  those  inhabitants,  except  by  seeing  them,  and  still  more  so, 
when  we  learn  what  they  had  previously  suffered  from  1836 
onward. 

The  witnesses  who  have  appeared  before  the  Commission, 


266 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


elderly  men,  of  the  best  standing  in  Guerrero,  have  narrated 
the  hostilities  previous  to  1848.  They  say  that  the  Coinanches 
never  molested  that  place  until  1836,  when  they  came  along 
the  left  bank  of  the  Kio  Grande,  robbing  cattle,  killing  - 
shepherds,  and  committing  many  other  depredations,  until 
they  were  routed  by  Don  Antonio  Zapata,  with  the  armed 
citizens  of  Guerrero,  on  the  spot  now  occupied  by  Davis,  or 
Rio  Grande  City,  recapturing  many  prisoners,  recovering  the 
stolen  horses,  and  taking  those  the  Indians  rode,  so  that  they 
escaped  only  on  foot.  They  state  also,  that  at  the  rancho 
called  “ Mogotes,”  between  Agualeguas  and  Mier,  the  Indians, 
to  the  number  of  500,  had  taken  possession  of  the  houses 
and  corrales,  and  Zapata  dislodged  them  with  great  loss; 
they  add  that  in  the  same  year  another  numerous  party 
encamped  in  front  of  the  city,  at  a time  when  Zapata  with 
most  of  the  citizens  was  forty  leagues  away,  engaged  in  a 
revolution,  and  that  on  learning  the  fact  they  hastily  returned, 
and  routed  the  Indians  at  “ Huizachal,”  near  the  city,  retaking 
fifty  captives  who  had  been  carried  ofl:'  frona  the  suburbs. 
Meanwhile,  one  of  tlie  leadino;  citizens  organized  a force  of 
eighty  men,  with  whom  he  went  in  pursuit  of  the  fugitive 
Indians,  routing  them  a second  time  at  “ La  Oracion,”  and 
recapturing  the  remaining  prisoners,  with  one  exception. 
After  the  death  of  Zapata,  his  cousin,  Don  Juan  Manuel 
Zapata,  continued  to  be  the  leader  of  the  townsmen  on  such 
occasions,  until  in  1851,  he  was  killed  in  an  engagement. 
The  Indians  again  attacked  the  rancho  of  “ Moros,”  which 
they  burned,  and  more  than  fifty  persons  perished  in  the 
tiames.  They  afterwards  attacked  “ China,”  in  the  State  of 
Huevo  Leon,  killed  more  than  sixty  persons  at  Meco,  and  were 
routed  on  the  plain  of  Ramirez,  with  the  loss  of  sixty  warriors, 
by  the  troops  of  Camargo  and  Guerrero.  The  witnesses 
unanimously  state  that,  previous  to  1848,  the  attacks  were 
made  by  large  parties,  which  were  generally  severely  punished, 
and  the  reason  given  is  quite  convincing,  namely,  that  their 
movements  were  impeded  by  the  large  amount  of  their  booty, 
so  that  they  were  easily  overtaken.  After  the  above  date,  the 
Indians  acted  upon  a different  system,  coming  in  small  parties, 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


267 


whicli  were  again  subdivided,  meeting  at  and  returning  to 
some  place  in  tlie  desert  with  their  respective  spoils.  On  this 
particular,  the  witnesses  were  very  explicit,  since  it  is  stated 
in  many  official  reports  that  such  encampments  were  formed, 
sometimes  in  Texas  and  at  other  times  in  Mexico,  and  after 
this  plan  was  first  discovered  in  Texas,  they  changed  their 
point  of  meeting  to  a place  in  the  desert  of  Coahuila,  from 
which  they  could  depredate  either  in  Tamaulipas  or  Nuevo 
Leon.  « 

Equal  truth  and  exactness  is  found  in  the  causes  which  they 
assign  for  the  partial  cessation  of  such  incursions,  which  they 
attribute  to  the  cattle  being  nearly  annihilated,  an  evident  fact, 
and  to  the  tenacity  with  which  the  marauders  have  been  pun- 
ished in  Mexico,  where  all  the  frontiersmen  are  now  trained 
soldiers  in  this  kind  of  warfare,  undertaken  by  them  readily 
and  systematically. 

One  of  the  actors  in  the  wars  in  Texas  speaks  of  the  in- 
vasion by  Comanches,  who  entered  Mexico  in  1836,  at  a time 
when  he  was  retreating  from  San  Antonio  de  Bejar,  after  the 
capitulation  of  General  Cos.  He  was  a soldier  of  the  perma- 
nent companies  of  Tamaulipas,  and  fought  at  Laredo,  in  Texas, 
with  the  Comanches,  who  were  pursued  as  far  as  the  Nueces. 
After  withdrawing  from  military  service,  he  took  part  in  the 
exploits  of  Zapata  at  Moros,  Huizachal,  and  elsewhere.  lie 
noted  the  change  of  tactics  on  the  part  of  the  Indians  after 
1848,  and  attributed  it  to  the  same  causes  as  the  other  wit- 
nesses. He  relates  that  before  the  year  1851,  in  which  Don 
Juan  Manuel  Zapata  was  killed,  that  officer  and  Don  Jose 
Maria  Benavides  Hinojosa  became  convinced  that  the  Indians 
were  encamping  in  Texas  and  committing  murders  with  im- 
punity. He  consequently  went  over  the  river  witii  a party  of 
armed  citizens,  and  by  consent  of  the  American  commander  at 
“ Ojuelos,”  attacked  the  Indians,  who  had  been  long  encamped 
at  “ Caliches,”  as  was  proved  by  finding  in  their  possession  the 
spoils  of  persons  killed  long  before,  by  the  droves  of  mules  re- 
captured, and,  lastly,  by  the  captives  who  were  then  set  at 
liberty. 

All  the  witnesses  agree  that  the  only  way  in  which  Mexi- 


•268 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


cans  could  recover  their  property  carried  into  Texas  by  Indians 
was  by  taking  part  personally  in  the  pursuit ; as  it  otherwise 
happened,  as  in  Laredo,  that  the  animals  recaptured  from 
Indians  would  be  sold  at  auction,  even  before  the  eyes  of  the 
owners. 

The  President  of  the  Common  Council  at  Guerrero  was  one 
of  the  officers  who,  in  1850,  requested  the  permission  of  the 
American  commander  to  cross  the  river,  and  states  that  he 
aided  with  a company  of  his  ^soldiers,  and  he  adds  that  four 
years  later,  in  1851,  the  Indians  were  again  pursued  in  Texas, 
but  this  time  by  Mexicans  residing  and  being  organized  there, 
as  permission  was  no  longer  given  to  the  citizens  of  Guerrero 
to  participate,  and  that  at  the  present  time  even  the  privilege 
granted  in  1851  is  no  longer  allowed  to  the  Mexicans  living  in 
Texas,  who  in  fact  cannot  now  assemble  at  that  place  more  than 
sixteen  men. 

The  statements  of  these  witnesses  as  to  the  losses  suffered 
by  the  city  of  Guerrero  being  entirely  corroborated  by  the  data 
obtained  from  the  public  archives,  an  irresistible  force  is  added 
thereto  by  the  testimony  which  captives  have  given  before  this 
Commission.  It  is  fully  confirmed  by  them  that  incursions 
into  Mexico  are  made  by  crossing  the  Rio  Grande  near  the 
Sierra  del  Carmen,  following  that  range  as  far  as  Santa  Rosa, 
scattering  thence  into  the  interior  States,  and  on  their  retui'n 
recrossing  into  Texas  between  Ruevo  Laredo  and  Guerrero. 
This  was  done  in  1 811,  when  they  carried  ofl’  Sabas  Rodriguez, 
passing  by  the  point  called  “ La  Oracion,”  in  the  desert  of 
Coahuila,  northwest  of  Xuevo  Laredo,  above  which  point  they 
crossed  the  river,  and,  passing  by  San  Saba,  proceeded  forty- 
three  days  journey  to  their  settlement,  which  appears  to  have 
been  on  the  Red  river  or  one  of  its  tributaries,  according  to 
the  description  and  the  Comanche  names  of  the  places.  And 
that  such  is  the  custom  generally  followed  by  these  Indians  is 
proved  by  the  two  campaigns  which  the  captive  made  with 
them,  one  in  1850,  when  they  came  to  Salinas,  and  the  other 
in  1852,  when  he  was  forcibly  rescued  on  the  hill  of  “ La 
Oracion.” 

It  is  beyond  doubt  that  a residence  of  eight  years  among 


NORTHERN'  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


269- 


the  Iiidicans  enabled  him  to  know  their  customs,  and,  in  speak- 
ing of  this  point,  he  averred  that  they  sold  all  their  booty  to 
Americans  and  to  other  Indians,  and  he  states  that  in  his  own 
place  of  I'esidence  a drove  of  mules  was  once  sold.  The  witness 
concludes  by  saying  that,  in  December,  1856,  he  killed  an  In- 
dian at  the  rancho  “ La  Salada,”  in  Texas,  and  that  he  was  a 
Comanche,  as  he  knows  from  having  seen  him  before  and  heard 
him  talk. 

Estevan  Herrera  and  Manuel  Tillareal  were  captured  in 
1868  by  Comanches,  who  were  retiring  from  towns  in  Xuevo 
Leon  with  stolen  horses,  and  near  Las  Tortillas  carried  off 
these  two  boys.  As  they  have  just  been  rescued  by  Americans 
from  the  Comanches,  it  cannot  be  doubted  that  the  latter  are 
the  tribe  which  now  commits  depredations  both  in  Mexico  and 
in  Texas.  These  captives  saw  in  Texas  the  murder  by  Coman- 
ches of  two  Mexicans  named  Juan  and  Jose  Maria  Benavides  ; 
they  saw  Indians  arrive  with  cattle,  horses,  and  captives ; they 
frequently  saw  them  set  out  on  expeditions,  and  saw  Americans 
from  Hew  Mexico  come  to  buy  cattle  aud  horses. 

That  this  statement  of  those  captives,  although  they  are 
very  young,  is  in  accordance  with  fact,  is  proved  by  a narrative 
published  this  year  by  a Mr.  Ilittson,  about  robberies  by  In- 
dians in  Hew  Mexico,  and  the  sales  they  make  to  American 
citizens.  AVhat  was  stated  by  Mr.  Gregg,  in  his  work  already 
quoted,  is  fully  proved  at  page  291  of  volume  I,  where  the  fol- 
lowins:  lan^uawe  is  found  ; 

“ Such  is  the  imbecility  of  the  local  governments  (those 
of  Chihuahua  and  Durango),  that  the  savages,  in  order 
to  dispose  of  their  stolen  property  without  even  a shadow 
of  molestation,  frequently  enter  into  partial  treaties  of  peace 
with  one  department,  while  they  continue  to  wage  a war 
of  extermination  against  the  neiorliborino;  States.  This  ar- 
rangement  supplies  them  with  an  ever  ready  market  for  the 
disposal  of  their  booty  and  the  purchase  of  munitions 
wherewith  to  prosecute  their  work  of  destruction.  In  1840  I 
Avitnessed  the  departure  from  Santa  Fe  of  a large  trading  party 
freighted  with  engines  of  Avar  and  a great  quantity  of  Avhiskey, 
intended  for  the  Apaches,  in  exchange  for  mules  and  other 
articles  of  plunder  Avhich  they  had  stolen  from  the  people  of 


270 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


tlie  south.  Tliis  traffic  was  not  only  tolerated,  but  openly  en- 
couraged by  the  civil  authorities,  as  the  highest  public  func- 
tionaries were  interested  in  its  success,  the  governor  himself 
not  excepted.” 

What  the  American  author  relates  as  having  taken  place  in 
New  Mexico  in  1840,  and  censures  with  good  reason,  is  repeated 
now-a-days,  with  the  difference  that  the  inhabitants  are  now 
American  citizens,  and  what  they  bu}'-  of  the  Indians  is  no 
longer  merely  property  robbed  from  Mexicans,  but  from  Ame- 
ricans as  well,  and  with  the  further  difference  that  the  partial 
treaties  were  made  with  governments  of  departments  or  States, 
while  they  are  now  made  with  the  agents  of  a powerful  gov- 
ernment, which  permits,  tolerates,  and  protects  this  scandalous 
traffic,  ruinous  to  the  citizens  of  a neighboring  nation  and  de- 
moralizing to  the  Americans  themselves. 

In  September,  1871,  when  Cecilio  Benavides  was  tending 
bis  cattle,  with  his  two  sons  Juan  and  Jose  Maria,  at  his 
rancho  in  Texas,  called  “ Prieto,”  Indians  came  and  took  the 
two  boys  captive.  These  boys  sa}^  that  on  their  journey  of 
twenty-three  days  to  the  residence  of  the  tribe,  the  Indians 
killed  eight  or  nine  persons,  and  committed  other  robberies ; 
that  the  New  Mexicans  came  to  buy  horses  at  the  encamp- 
ment, and  that  the  Indians  made  frequent  expeditions,  from 
which  they  returned  bringing  cattle,  horses,  and  captives  ; that 
one  of  the  latter  was  Manuel  Yela,  taken  in  Texas  in  187‘1  by 
the  same  Indians,  who  were  Comanches  and  Kiowas,  from 
whose  hands  they  were  rescued  in  consequence  of  the  encamp- 
ment being  attacked  by  American  troops:  these  routed  them 
and  took  many  prisoners,  who  were  exchanged  for  American 
and  Mexican  captives. 

Juan  Yela  Benavides,  another  of  the  captives,  was  taken  in 
1848;  saw  the  trade  with  the  New  Mexicans;  knew  of  the 
trading  ])ost  where  the  Comanches  went  to  exchange  their 
Mexican  booty ; and,  lastljq  saw  several  Germans  come  to 
trade,  and  even  availed  himself  of  one  of  them  to  effect  his  own 
ransom.  He  states  that  an  American  commissioner,  accom- 
panied by  two  other  men,  came  twice  to  the  village  and  re- 
turned. This  witness  testifies  that  in  the  year  of  his  captivity 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


2T1 


(1818)  the  Indians  already  had  their  regular  place  of  meeting 
in  the  desert,  and  all  his  statement  fully  proves  a well  com- 
bined plan  of  attack,  as  well  as  the  understanding  of  the  Co- 
manches  with  the  Americans. 

From  the  multitude  of  evidence,  a clear  exhibit  has  been 
formed,  showing  the  amount  of  damages  ; that  their  perpetra- 
toi'S  have  been  Comanches  acting  with  the  connivance  of 
American  citizens,  who  have  directly  or  indirectly  encouraged 
them,  generally  acquiring  the  booty  stolen  in  Mexico  by  ex- 
change for  arras  and  ammunition. 

When  we  take  into  account  the  pledges  usually  given  by 
revolutionists  when  fighting  for  the  triumph  of  a principle,  it 
will  enable  us  to  appreciate  two  notable  facts  which  show  the 
character  of  Indian  warfare  and  the  importance  always  given 
to  it.  Don  Antonio  Zajjata  was,  in  1839,  accompanying  the 
revolutionary  General  Canales  in  his  march  against  JIuevo 
Leon  and  Coahuila,  when  he  learned  that  the  Indians  had  ap- 
peared near  Guerrero,  and  he  turned  back  immediately  and 
routed  them  at  Iluizachal.  Santa  Anna,  iu  his  last  despotic 
and  suspicious  administration  in  1853,  ordered  a general  dis- 
arming throughout  the  country,  and  only  excepted  the  frontier 
States  on  account  of  the  warfare  they  were  maintaining  against 
the  savages. 

The  amount  of  attention  given  to  this  warfare,  even  in  the 
most  critical  times  for  the  country,  is  sufficiently  proved  bj’  the 
spontaneousness  with  which  tlie  menaced  towns  have  under- 
taken it  at  their  own  expense,  and  especially  by  the  two  in- 
stances given  above,  which  show  the  grave  nature  of  an  evil 
which  in  times  of  civil  strife  was  regarded  as  a matter  not  of 
fortunes  alone,  but  of  life  and  death. 

After  the  treaty  of  Guadalupe  a new  town  was  built  on  the 
right  bank  of  the  Rio  Grande,  opposite  the  old  town  of  Laredo. 
The  Mexicans  born  in  that  town  when  it  belonged  to  Mexico, 
who  did  not  wish  to  endure  the  cruel  fate  of  being  foreigners 
in  their  own  country,  crossed  the  river  and  founded  K^uevo 
Laredo  on  lands  originally  belonging  to  the  old  town.  From 
its  beginning  this  settlement  was  involved  in  the  same  struggle 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


979, 


as  the  other  towns  on  the  E-io  Grande,  and  as  late  as  last  year 
has  continued  to  suffer  from  the  Conianches. 

Here,  as  in  Guerrero,  the  public  archives  and  the  state- 
ments of  numerous  witnesses,  have  furnished  abundant  data  to 
prove  enormous  damages,  and  the  brief  summary  which  this 
Commission  will  now  give  will  show  that  all  the  complaints 
presented  to  it  along  the  frontier  of  Tamaulipas  represent  only 
a veiy  small  part  of  the  real  losses,  since  only  a portion  of  the 
sufferers  have  had  their  losses  recorded,  and  these  not  the  whole, 
but  only  that  part  which  they  best  remembered. 

Xuevo  Laredo,  having  been  founded  during  the  war,  it  was 
directed  and  enabled,  in  July,  1848,  to  organize  a half  company 
of  National  Guards  for  its  own  protection  against  the  savages. 
Nevertheless,  its  sufferings  from  their  incursions  gave  occasion 
to  the  State  government  to  issue  the  following  order  : 

“ According  to  Article  XT  of  the  Treaty  of  Peace  with  the 
United  States,  that  country  undertook  not  only  to  prevent  Indian 
invasions,  but  to  punisli  them  severely  when  made,  and  to  redeem 
the  captives  taken  in  our  territory.  Consequently,  whenever  we 
have  to  deplore  an  occurrence  like  that  you  mention,  you  may 
call  the  attention  of  the  authorities  of  old  Laredo  to  this  obliga- 
tion. This  government  is  making  the  greatest  efforts  to  miti- 
gate the  sufferings  of  your  unfortunate  town,  and  authorizes 
the  Ayuntamiento  to  employ  the  municipal  moneys  for  the 
purchase  of  arms.” 

As  the  invasions  continued,  the  citizens  of  Old  and  New 
Laredo  combined  in  a campaign  against  the  Indians  at  “ Laguna 
de  la  Leche,”  in  which  the  troops  of  the  military  colony  located 
in  that  vicinity  took  part.  But  as  the  seat  of  the  evil  was  else- 
where, nothing  came  of  these  expeditions,  and  the  government 
of  the  State,  pitying  the  sufferings  of  the  frontier  towns,  in- 
formed them,  on  the  23d  of  March,  1850,  that  “it  had  urged 
the  signing  of  an  extradition  treaty,  and  would  urge  it  again, 
since  they  were  at  times  exposed  to  Indian  barbarity  and  at 
other  times  to  depredations  by  criminals  on  the  left  bank  of  the 
river.”  This  proposal  shows  satisfactorily  that  the  Mexican 
authorities  were  then  struggling  at  the  same  time  with  the  sav- 
ao'es  and  the  demoralization  existing  on  the  left  bank,  where 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


273 


criminals  found  refuge,  and  the  inhabitants  profited  by  the  pur- 
chase of  their  spoils. 

On  the  1st  of  February,  1850,  Indians  penetrated  by  night 
into  the  town,  carrying  otf  all  the  horses,  which  were  no  longer 
safe  even  in  the  yards.  It  became  necessary  to  set  a guard  at 
night  in  order  to  enjoy  any  security,  and  matters  came  to  the 
extreme  in  March,  of  having  to  call  back  a party  sent  in  pur- 
suit of  Indians,  because  other  Indians  were  menacing  the 
town,  thus  leaving  the  cattle  farms  at  the  mercy  of  the  formid- 
able enemy. 

On  the  31st  of  July,  the  mayor  was  informed  that  the  In- 
dians had  stolen  all  the  horses  there  were  in  the  neigliborhood, 
that  a party  of  citizens  and  another  of  soldiers  had  unsuccess- 
fully gone  in  pursuit,  and  that  other  Indians  had  attacked  the 
rancho  of  Agapito  Galvan,  and  passed  on  towards  Guerrero. 
There  were  then  in  Mexico  enough  Indians  to  allow  them  to  go 
from  one  town  to  another,  to  cross  over  to  Texas  to  secure  their 
booty,  and  return  to  continue  their  depredations.  The  alarm 
caused  in  N uevo  Laredo  by  the  presence  of  Indians  in  their 
streets,  and  the  unavailing  efforts  made  by  the  inhabitants  to 
recover  their  property  when  hurried  across  the  river,  was  wit- 
nessed by  the  American  town  and  the  garrison  in  the  adjoining 
fort.  But  not  the  slightest  step  was  taken  to  prevent  or  to 
punish  these  outrages,  prepared  and  consummated  in  American 
territory. 

The  ]ieople  of  Nuevo  Lai’edodid  not  desist  from  their  efibrts 
to  counteract  these  ferocious  assaults.  The  citizens  who  had 
just  returned  from  one  expedition,  set  out  again  the  same  year 
in  combination  with  those  of  Guerrero,  and  of  several  towns 
in  Nuevo  Leon,  to  drive  the  savages  from  their  pastures,  and 
such  was  their  solicitude  to  prevent  those  evils,  that  they  sent 
notice  to  the  distant  town  of  Monclova  of  a horde  that  was 
taking  that  direction. 

Up  to  the  year  1872,  the  incursions  have  continued  with 
more  or  less  vigor.  To  enumerate  them  all  would  take  much 
time,  and  the  objects  of  the  Commission  are  met  by  a few  cita- 
tions which  afford  a complete  picture  of  those  which  are  omit- 
ted. In  tliis  continuous  chain  of  invasions  we  find  dispatches 
18 


274 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


from  the  authorities,  which  set  forth  in  detail  the  hopelessness 
of  the  situation,  enabling  us  by  their  simple  perusal  to  form  an 
exact  judgment  of  the  evil  and  its  origin.  After  Nuevo  La- 
redo was  surrounded  daily  and  nightly  by  the  Indians,  murder- 
ing and  robbing,  and  evading  chastisement  by  passing  over  to 
Texas  in  full  sight  of  Old  Laredo;  after  it  had  become  noto- 
rious that  the  Comanches  were  the  perpetrators  of  those  depre- 
dations, which  were  tranquilly  witnessed  by  the  citizens  of  the 
United  States;  on  one  occasion  when  some  Lipan  Indians 
showed  themselves  in  the  vicinity,  the  Texans  observed  a totally 
different  conduct,  as  may  be  seen  by  the  following  dispatch 
sent  on  the  7th  of  March,  1856,  by  the  first  judge  to  the  higher 
authorities  at  Guerrero : 

“ Having  been  informed  to-day,  at  8 A.  M.,  by  the  citizen 
Rodrigo  Martinez,  that  a body  of  80  or  90  armed  citizens  of 
Laredo,  Texas,  have  crossed  the  river  into  Mexico,  at  the  ‘ Es- 
condida’  ford,  near  this  town,  with  the  object  of  attacking  the 
Lipan  Indians,  who  have  been  hunting  wild  cattle  on  the  Lani- 
pazos  road,  by  virtue  of  a written  permit  given  them  by  the 
Governor  of  Nuevo  Leon,  Don  Santiago  Vidaurri ; and  as  this 
town  has  not  sufficient  means  for  repelling  this  force,  I inform 
you  thereof,  requesting  you  to  make  the  fact  known,  and  to 
inform  me  what  assistance  your  city  can  give  ns  to  defend  the 
sovereignty  of  the  nation,  whose  laws  and  decorum  have  been 
trampled  under  foot  under  pretext  of  the  Lipaus.” 

To  the  grave  offense  of  tolerating  the  Comanches  in  their 
own  country,  the  Americans  added  this  outrage.  From  this 
time  onward  they  watched  for  opportunities  to  conceal  or  deny 
their  own  offenses,  laying  the  responsibility  on  Indians  who  had 
done  no  harm.  When  those  deeds  are  scrutinized  in  the  light 
of  the  data  collected  from  many  sources,  it  is  palpably  seen 
that  this  conduct  had  a crafty  purpose,  namely,  to  distract  the 
attention  of  Mexicans  from  their  own  losses  to  those  of  the 
Texans.  This  object  was  generally  attained  by  means  of  a 
crime,  namely,  the  violation  of  our  territoiy,  which  attracted 
attention,  and  drove  us  to  reflect  on  the  best  means  of  prevent- 
ing it.  It  was  not  without  reason  that  the  authorities  asserted 
that  the  chastisement  of  the  Lipans  was  merely  a pretext,  since 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


275 


it  was  well  known  that  those  Indians  were  neither  the  sole  per- 
petrators of  the  damages  suffered  in  Texas,  nor  of  those  on  the 
Mexican  bank  of  the  river.  When  the  Commission  comes  to 
treat  of  the  Lipans,  it  will  show  the  real  object  of  this  proced- 
ure of  the  Texan  people.  It  will  new  observe  that  the  Amer- 
icans were  aroused  to  invade  our  territory,  when  they  learned 
that  Indians  who  were  at  peace  with  Mexico  were  in  the 
vicinity  of  17uevo  Laredo.  But  when  the  Comanches  came 
from  Texas,  passing  the  rancho  of  San  Ignacio,  where  they 
murdered  some  Mexicans,  being  chased  to  the  river  bank  by 
an  American  officer,  our  territoiy  was  respected. 

No  rational  and  satisfactory  explanation  can  be  given  to 
such  conduct,  which  is  the  more  to  be  regretted,  because  oc- 
curring in  the  most  critical  times,  when  the  Indian  incursions 
were  most  frequent  and  the  devastations  most  cruel. 

Although  the  inhabitants  of  the  right  bank  of  the  Rio 
Grande  were  kept  in  continual  movement  in  the  pursuit  of  the 
Indians,  they  not  unfrequently  laid  aside  these  occupations  to 
return  and  defend  their  towns  from  the  menaced  attacks  of  fil- 
ibusters, which  were  organized  in  the  principal  towns  of  Texas> 
with  the  manifest  intention  of  depredating  in  Mexico.  While 
they  were  attending  to  this  new  peril,  the  savages  remained  in 
possession  of  their  pasture  lands,  and  robbed  them  with  perfect 
impunity. 

Many  instances  of  these  piratical  invasions  are  recorded, 
which  are  here  mentioned  on  account  of  their  relation  to  the 
depredations  of  the  savages.  They  are  also  mentioned,  because 
many  of  our  citizens  are  convinced,  with  more  or  less  reason, 
that  the  intention  was  formed  of  aiding  and  abetting  the  rob- 
beries of  the  Indians,  w'ith  whom  they  were  in  partnership. 
The  Commission  does  not  attach  any  importance  to  this  belief. 
It  did  not  wish  even  to  mention  it,  and  the  only  motive  for  so 
doing  is  to  show  how  lamentable  has  been  the  condition  of  the 
frontier  towns  in  ever^^  respect ; that  the  Indian  depredations 
have  been  very  extensive,  and  that  the  citizens  and  authorities 
of  the  United  States  have  largely  contributed  to  them,  the 
former  by  their  menaces  of  attacking  the  Mexican  towns  which 


276 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


were  already  suffering  from  the  Indians,  and  the  latter  by  the 
aid  and  comfort  they  gave  to  such  plans. 

From  the  year  1855  to  1858  there  was  constant  alarm  on 
the  frontier,  on  account  of  hostile  preparations  in  Texas,  and 
the  consequences  were  disastrous  in  respect  to  the  spoiling  of 
their  property  by  the  Indians.  Before  this  date,  other  causes, 
springing  from  a spirit  of  positive  malevolence,  created  a situa- 
tion no  less  dangerous  and  threatening  for  the  Mexican  towns. 
The  invasions  of  1851,  which  were  carefully  masked  under  a 
different  plan,  had  no  other  object  than  the  profit  of  the  Texan 
border  at  the  expense  of  the  Mexican  ; the  destruction  of  the 
latter  region  in  pursuance  of  a preconceived  plan  of  annexa- 
tion. 

As  there  are  many  persons  in  Texas  who  still  cherish  these 
ideas  of  conquest,  and  most  of  them  live  on  the  frontier,  the 
influence  tliey  have  had  in  public  life  has  been  employed  in 
manufacturing  conflicts,  increasing  the  ruin  of  the  Mexican 
frontier.  Hence  their  indifference  to  or  encouragement  of  the 
robberies  of  the  Indians,  hence  the  negro  troubles,  the  com- 
plaints against  Kickapoos  and  Lipans,  and  the  recent  charges 
of  cattle  stealing,  for  it  is  seen  that  when  one  grievance  disap- 
pears another  is  invented. 

The  Commission  does  not  need  to  say  that  this  conduct  does 
not  proceed  from  any  design  of  the  government  of  the  United 
States,  since  it  is  well  known  that  those  evil-doers  are  hostile 
to  their  government,  on  account  of  its  not  countenancing  their 
plans  of  invasion.  These  plans,  however,  have  not  been  put 
down  with  the  energy  and  promptitude  necessary  to  forestall 
the  evil,  and  responsibility  has  been  thus  incurred  for  all  that 
has  been  suffered. 

It  is  not  merely  this  Commission  which  condemns  the  ac- 
tion of  the  authorities  and  citizens  in  question  ; their  own  fel- 
low citizens  have  condemned  it  by  contrary  action,  such  as 
is  usual  between  friendly  neighboring  nations.  It  has  been 
said  a few  pages  back  that  a violation  of  our  territory  was  com- 
mitted in  1856  by  a body  of  eighty  or  ninety  Texans,  and  tliat 
this  alarmed  the  Mexicans  and  caused  serious  commotion.  But 
recently  in  1870,  some  Indians,  who  had  been  marauding  in 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


277 


Texas,  crossed  the  river  and  were  pursued  in  Mexican  territory 
by  American  troops.  This  occurrence  gave  occasion  to  Colonel 
Anderson,  commanding  at  Fort  McIntosh,  to  address  tlie  fol- 
lowing note,  on  the  17th  of  April,  to  the  president  of  the  coun- 
cil at  Nuevo  Laredo : 

“ Sir : I have  the  honor  to  inform  you  that  I sent  yeslier- 
day  a body  of  troops,  made  up  of  soldiers  and  citizens,  in  pur- 
suit of  the  Indians,  and  that  they  have  followed  them  across 
the  river.  As  these  savages  are  common  enemies  of  all  civilized 
people,  I hope  that  this  act  of  pursuing  them  on  the  other  side 
will  meet  with  your  approval,  and  I trust  it  will  not  be  consid- 
ered disrespectful  to  your  authorities,  since  our  only  object  is 
to  recover  some  stolen  horses.  If,  however,  your  authorities 
are  opposed  to  pursuing  the  Indians  on  your  territory,  I will 
send  a messenger  to  recall  them.” 

The  authorities  of  Nuevo  Laredo  went  beyond  the  sugges- 
tion of  Colonel  Andersorf,  replying  immediately  that  they  had 
sent  a force  to  co-operate  with  the  Americans  in  the  pursuit  of 
the  savages,  whom  he  had  so  justly  called  enemies  of  all  civil- 
ized people.  This  act  of  the  American  officer  is  equivalent  to 
a condemnation  of  the  previous  conduct  of  the  American 
authorities  and  people  in  Texas,  as  contrary  to  the  true  inter- 
ests of  both  nations. 

The  Commission  takes  pleasure  in  narrating  another  occur- 
rence, which  not  only  proved  the  zeal  of  the  Mexican  author- 
ities in  pursuing  the  Indians,  but  also  the  enterprise  of  private 
individuals  animated  by  the  same  spirit.  In  1870,  while  Mex- 
icans and  Americans  were  engaged  together  in  chasing  the 
Indians  who  had  crossed  into  Mexico,  the  rancheros  of  “ Agua- 
verde,”  without  notice  or  order,  and  moved  only  by  duty,  as- 
sembled to  the  number  of  six,  attacked  the  Indians  in  the  very 
act  of  recrossing  the  Nio  Grande  with  the  booty  taken  on  both 
banks,  and  recovered  tlie  property  of  Americans  and  Mexicans, 
thus  proving  the  activity  and  good  organization  maintained  in 
this  kind  of  warfare  made  only  against  the  Coraanches.  When 
the  united  forces  reached  Aguaverde  in  pursuit,  they  found 
there  the  horses  recovered  by  the  herdsmen,  and  all  the  owners 
received  their  property  without  any  conditions,  and  the  Amer- 
icans returned  satisfied  to  their  country. 


2T8 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


This  good  understanding  between  the  autliorities  of  both 
countries  proves,  by  its  favorable  result,  what  might  have  been 
done  from  the  beginning,  if  the  operations  had  been  guided  by 
a spirit  of  concord.  Tiiis  action  of  the  American  officer  also 
demonstrates  the  impropriety  of  the  conduct  of  all  his  prede- 
cessors since  1848,  who  have  simply  kept  their  posts,  and  have 
but  once  given  notice  of  an  invasion  made  from  their  territory 
into  Mexico.  This  same  fact  shows  that  the  conduct  observed 
in  1856,  in  invading  Mexico  to  attack  the  Li|)ans,  when  they 
were  hunting  wild  cattle  at  a distance  from  the  frontier,  was  a 
criminal  procedure.  It  also  shows  that,  with  the  exception  of 
Colonel  Anderson,  no  Federal  authority  in  Texas  has  known 
how  to  compl}’  with  his  international  duties. 

Unfortunately  for  the  preservation  of  good  feeling  between 
the  two  frontiers,  the  prevailing  spirit  among  the  American 
authorities  has  been  favorable  neither  to  law  nor  to  justice,  but 
to  power  and  force.  When  placed  in  front  of  unfortified  points, 
they  have  almost  always  abused  their  position.  Surrounded  by 
parties  interested  in  the  maintenance  of  abuses  by  which  they 
profited,  the  Federal  officers  have  listened  to  one-sided  reports, 
and  have  therefore  assumed  an  attitude  neitlier  just  nor  con- 
formable with  the  true  interest  of  both  republics.  In  most 
cases  an  ignorance  of  English  on  the  part  of  Mexicans,  and  of 
Spanish  on  the  part  of  the  Americans,  has  prevented  tlieir  re- 
ceiving exact  information,  and  has  maintained  an  embarrassing 
situation. 

It  will  be  seen,  in  the  course  of  this  report,  that  information 
has  been  obtained  from  all  possible  sources,  and  that  of  a na- 
ture to  inspire  the  most  absolute  confidence,  since  the  persons 
who  deposited  it  in  the  archives  never  suspected  that  it  would 
be  used  for  any  special  object.  The  Commission,  therefore, 
confides  in  such  information,  and  does  not  doubt  that  all  im- 
partial persons  will  concede  to  it  that  force  which  it  deserves 
from  its  authenticity,  its  simplicity,  and  its  evident  truth. 

The  towns  of  Tamaulipas  visited  by  the  Commission  have 
proven  very  considerable  losses,  which  are  undoubtedly  below 
the  fact.  These  proceed  from  direct  damages  to  person  and 
property,  and  indirect  losses  resulting  therefrom. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


279 


The  calculation  of  losses  which  have  been  proven,  although 
amounting  to  a heavy  sum,  is  vciy  far  from  the  reality,  for  not 
all  the  sufferers  have  presented  themselves,  and  those  who  have 
done  so  have  not  given  in  the  whole  amount  of  their  losses. 
There  was  such  perfect  good  faith  on  the  part  of  the  complain- 
ants that  when  any  one  of  them  had  previously  presented  a 
claim,  he  always  stated  the  fact  at  the  outset,  and  confined 
himself  to  mentioning  his  more  recent  losses.  Not  a few  of 
the  sufferers  have  abstained  from  presenting  their  complaints, 
because  they  had  obtained  no  satisfaction  for  those  presented 
twenty  years  before.  Aside,  therefore,  from  the  justice  which 
is  perceptible  in  the  majority  of  the  cases,  they  have  also  the 
further  recommendation  of  supplying  evidence  for  those  which 
are  awaiting  a decision  (by  the  Mixed  Commission)  at  Washing- 
ton, since  it  is  plain  that  no  spirit  of  speculation  nor  precon- 
ceived plan  has  entered  into  these  complaints. 

No  one  will  charge  these  reclamations  with  being  exag- 
gerated or  impertinent,  if  he  considers  for  a moment  the  losses 
Avhich  have  occasioned  them,  the  long  space  of  time  in  which 
they  have  been  accumulating,  and  the  other  circumstances  al- 
ready mentioned  from  which  they  have  arisen.  Any  scruple 
on  this  head  will  disappear  on  the  slightest  examination  of  the 
first  part  of  the  2d  expediente,  in  which  all  the  invasions  of 
savages  in  Taraaulipas  have  been  conjointly  proven,  as  well  as 
the  immense  amount  of  property  carried  off  to  the  United 
States,  enriching  that  country  at  the  expense  of  Mexico,  and, 
above  all,  the  valuable  lives '\vhich  have  been  sacrificed.  It 
will  there  be  seen  that  the  claimants  have  been  very  moderate, 
rating  neither  their  property  nor  their  lives  at  their  true  value. 
The  Commission  has  taken  care  to  form  a statistical  table  which 
represents  the  incursions  in  connection  with  the  losses  of  life 
and  property  thereby  caused ; and  it  has  no  doubt  that  the  real 
losses  will  thus  become  apparent,  and  also  the  good  conduct, 
nay,  the  disinterestedness  of  the  sufferers.  But  if  there  should 
be  any  who  still  doubt,  notwithstanding  the  authenticity  of  the 
documents  obtained  from  the  archives,  they  will  undoubtedly 
be  convinced  by  a parallel  drawn  between  the  claimants  of 
the  two  nations,  the  Mexicans  resting  their  cases  for  the  losses 


280 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


of  twenty  years  on  the  public  archives  alone ; while,  on  the 
other  side,  appear  incredible  tales  of  imaginary  losses  dur- 
ing six  years  only,  estimates  of  wdiich  the  mere  statement 
suffices,  even  in  the  United  States,  to  draw  down  the  ridicule 
and  the  condemnation  of  every  right-minded  and  impartial 
man. 

The  morality,  and.  good  sense  of  the  Mexican  citizens 
will  be  still  better  seen  by  the  fact  that  nothing  whatever 
has  been  claimed  as  compensation  for  the  robberies  of  horses, 
which  have  been  made  with  impunity  by  American  citizens, 
with  perhaps  the  connivance  and  protection  of  their  authori- 
ties, ever  since  1848.  The  losses  from  this  cause  have  been  in- 
calculable, but  owing  to  the  difficult}’  of  estimating  them,  as 
well  as  to  the  doubt  how  far  the  American  authorities  have 
become  re3ponsil)le  through  their  negligence,  the'  sufferers 
have  abstained  from  presenting  their  complaints,  thus  affording 
a criterion  of  the  real  value  of  the  American  claims  for  losses 
of  cattle,  w’hich  are  undoubtedly  much  less  than  the  Mexican 
losses  of  horses,  since  the  latter  began  in  1848,  and  have  con- 
tinued up  to  the  present  time,  while  the  former  were  unknown 
until  the  beginning  of  the  Confederate  war. 

It  being  difficult  to  ascertain  the  exact  losses,  the  basis  of 
one  per  cent,  per  month  on  the  entire  airiount,  as  charged  by 
the  complainants,  will  not  appear  exaggerated.  The  profit  on 
cattle-farming  is  calculated  by  the  American  claimants  at  33 
per  cent.,  or  one-third  of  tlie  capital  invested,  and  it  will  there- 
fore be  seen  that  this  point  has  heen  equitably  determined,  as 
is  also  the  case  respecting  the  valuation  of  the  property  stolen 
or  destroyed. 

It  has  been  previously  mentioned,  that  many  of  the  suffer- 
ers were  unable,  from  sickness  or  absence,  to  appear  before  the 
Commission ; so  that  the  recorded  losses,  although  they  afford 
data  for  calculating  all  those  which  liave  been  suffered  in 
Taraaulipas  by  Indian  incursions  alone,  do  not  really  represeut 
their  full  amount,  which  would  be  a much  larger  sum. 

No  calculation  has  been  attempted  of  the  sums  spent  by 
the  public  treasury  in  protection  of.  the  frontier,  because  the 
data  are  not  accessible.  It  has  been  ascertained,  in  a general 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


281 


way,  tliat  the  nation,  in  the  midst  of  its  serious  difficulties  from 
internal  and  foreign  wars,  has  not,  for  an  instant,  neglected  the 
frontier,  on  which  it  has  fixed  its  attention,  on  account  of  its 
importance  as  an  integral  portion  of  the  republic,  and  on  ac- 
count of  its  relations  with  the  neighboring  nation. 

Nor  has  the  value  of  the  services  of  the  Mexican  frontiers- 
men, in  the  pursuit  of  the  savages,  been  calculated,  as  in  jus- 
tice it  should  be.  But  there  have  been  no  accurate  data,  since 
the  documents  consulted  are  incomplete,  and  it  has  been 
thought  best  to  leave  tliis  blank,  which  may  perchance  be  filled 
up  respecting  other  of  tlie  invaded  towns,  where  such  registers 
may  have  been  kept. 

The  Commission  has  endeavored  to  give,  in  the  preceding 
summary,  an  idea  of  the  sufiferings  of  the  people  of  Tamaullpas, 
on  account  of  the  incursions  of  the  savages,  but  it  puts  more 
trust  in  the  accompanying  synoptical  table,  which  gives  all  the 
invasions,  along  with  their  dates,  the  murders  and  robberies 
caused  thereby,  and  the  expeditions  organized  against  them. 
This  table  supplies  all  that  has  here  been  omitted,  and  will 
prove  the  accuracy  of  the  Commission’s  statements,  for  it 
should  be  distinctly  remembered,  that  nothing  has  been 
affirmed  which  does  not  rest  on  some  public  document,  or  been 
placed  beyond  doubt  by  the  unanimous  testimony  of  numerous 
witnesses. 


DEPREDATIONS  OF  SAVAGES  IN  NUEVO  LEON. 

Nuevo  Leon  being  separated  from  the  American  frontier  by 
Coahuila  on  the  north,  and  by  Tamaulipas  on  the  east  and 
northeast,  it  would  seem  to  be  sheltered,  by  its  position,  from 
the  depredations  of  savages  who  had  other  towns  nearer  at 
hand  on  which  to  satisfy  their  gi-eed  of  rapine  and  bloodshed  ; 
but  unfortunately  this  has  not  been  the  case.  The  evils,  dtfha- 
ages  and  sufferings  of  its  neighboring  States  have  been  here  ex- 
pel ienced  on  a still  greater  scale,  in  proportion  to  the  greater 
riches  accumulated  by  the  well-known  industry  of  its  citizens, 
who,  having  enjoyed  domestic  peace  ever  since  the  independ- 


282 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


ence  of  Mexico,  had  devoted  themselves  to  stock-raising  and 
agriculture  as  the  sources  of  their  prosperity,  until  the  savages, 
by  their  incessant  warfare,  involved  them  in  ruin. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  Spanish  civilization,  in  its  la- 
borious task  of  peopling  these  regions,  and  civilizing  the  native 
tribes,  had,  at  the  close  of  the  last  century,  advanced  its  settle- 
ments in  this  direction  as  far  as  Lampazos,  Laredo  and  the 
Presidios  (military  colonies)  of  San  Vicente,  Babia,  Agua- 
verde.  Alamo  and  Bahia ; that  soldiers  and  missionaries  had 
preceded  the  first  settlers  of  these  regions,  who  did  not  occupy 
them  until  reports  of  their  beauty  and  fertility  aroused  a spirit 
of  enterprise,  after  they  had  been  completely  reduced  to  peace 
by  the  force  of  arms  or  of  proselytism. 

The  origin  of  San  Antonio,  of  Laredo,  of  Guerrero,  and  all 
the  other  towns  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Bio  Grande,  was  due 
to  the  same  causes,  and  most  of  them  were  colonized  by  Indians 
of  Haxcala,  who  by  their  adhesion  to  the  Spaniards,  by  their 
bravery  and  industry  in  the  most  indispensible  arts  of  civilized 
life,  contributed  to  facilitate  the  work  of  the  conquerors.  Thanks 
to  these  expedients,  most  of  the  Indians  were  brought  to  order 
and  Christianity,  the  remainder  were  driven  northward,  and 
in  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century  the  struggle  which 
still  continues  was  begun. 

The  superiority  in  arras  and  discipline  which  the  Spaniards 
communicated  to  the  Christianized  Indians  overcame  all  resist- 
ance, and  it  is  to  be  noted  that  the  Spaniards  who  lived  in  those 
establishments  always  preserved  their  influence  over  those  In- 
dians, whom  they  did  not  fear  to  arm  for  the  conflict  with  the 
savages. 

These  discoveries  and  settlements  went  on  progressing  dur- 
ing the  seventeenth  and  the  greater  part  of  the  eighteenth  cen- 
tury, at  the  end  of  which  their  decline  commenced.  It  was 
then  seen  that  the  colonies  remained  stationary,  weighed  down 
by  the  war  with  the  savages,  and  the  colonial  companies  were 
then  organized  upon  a plan  so  sagacious  that  eight  of  them, 
conveniently  located,  kept  at  bay  the  immense  multitude  of 
Comanches  and  other  Indians  who  roamed  over  the  deserts  of 
New  Mexico  and  Texas,  then  belonging  to  our  nation. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


283 


It  is  true  that  no  step  was  taken  in  advance,  but  it  is  also 
true  that  from  the  organization  of  the  said  companies  all  the 
frontier  towns  were  greatly  relieved  from  their  previous  strug- 
gles, and  those  farther  south  enjoyed  complete  peace  up  to  the 
year  1836. 

The  frontiers  of  Tamaulipas  and  of  Coahuila,  as  being  more 
open  and  extended,  were  garrisoned  by  seven  companies,  and 
but  one  was  destined  to  Nuevo  Leon,  which  was  placed  near 
Lainpazos  to  guard  the  approaches  to  the  center  of  the  State. 
The  experience  of  fort}"  years  showed  that  this  system,  com- 
bining attack  with  defense,  was  well  devised,  for  except  in  one 
or  two  instances,  neither  the  Comanches  nor  any  other  Indians 
penetrated  within  the  extensive  lines  defended  by  the  colonial 
garrisons,  from  Bahia  on  the  Gulf  coast  to  San  Yicente,  near 
the  old  post  of  San  Carlos  in  Chihuahua. 

Santa  Rosa,  San  Fernando  de  Aguaverde,  Presidio  de  Rio 
Grande,  Lainpazos,  Laredo  and  San  Antonio,  which  were  the 
outposts,  are  the  only  towns  which  preserve  in  their  annals  the 
details  of  the  depredations  committed  by  Indians,  who  rarely 
failed  on  such  occasions  to  be  severely  punished,  and  even  pur- 
sued into  their  native  deserts. 

Travelers  passing  to  the  south  of  the  above  mentioned  posts 
enjoyed  the  same  security  as  within  the  towns  themselves. 
This  peace  and  tranquility  was  still  better  secured  from  the 
year  1829,  when  General  Bustamante  reorganized  the  colonial 
garrison,  as  before  mentioned,  creating  a situation  of  pros- 
perity which  will  seem  wonderful  and  even  incredible  with- 
out an  investigation  of  the  position  of  the  Indians  at  this 
period. 

The  work  of  Josiah  Gregg,  already  mentioned,  which  was 
written  at  a time  when  it  was  not  even  imagined  that  it  would 
ever  supply  evidence  in  international  questions,  solves  the 
enigma  of  the  formidable  invasions  made  by  the  savage  hordes 
inhabiting  the  frontiers  of  Northern  Mexico  and  the  western 
territories  of  theUnited  States.  Its  data  are  the  more  precious 
because  obtained  in  the  Indian  country,  and  precisely  at  the 
time  when  they  were  effecting  their  great  movement  towards 
the  Mexican  settlements,  and  because  while  the  author  criticises 


284 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


the  Mexican  authorities  for  their  dealings  with  the  Indians,  he 
has  written  down  the  condemnation  of  his  own  country,  furnish- 
ing a criterion  by  which  to  pass  judgment  upon  this  compli- 
cated Indian  question. 

It  has  already  been  stated  that  the  government  of  the 
United  States,  yielding  to  tlie  pressure  applied  by  some  of  the 
States,  dislodged  the  Indian  tribes  wliich  led  an  independent 
existence  in  the  midst  of  that  republic,  the  inhabitants  of 
which  never  intermarried  with  them,  leaving  them  to  preserve 
their  savage  manners  and  customs.  That  government  being, 
according  to  the  expression  of  De  Tocqueville,  impotent  to  pro- 
tect the  Indians,  it  transplanted  them  to  the  frontier  of  Mexico, 
and  at  the  close  of  1831  ten  thousand  had  been  placed  at  the 
nearest  point  to  Mexico,  at  a great  distance  from  ail  American 
settlements. 

Some  of  the  observations  made  by  Mr.  Josiah  Gregg  in  his  ■ 
travels  across  the  prairies  to  Santa  Fe  and  Chihuahua  in  tlie 
spring  of  183b,  have  been  quoted  at  the  beginning  of  this  re- 
port for  the  purpose  of  explaining  the  origin  of  the  great  erup- 
tion made  into  our  three  States  in  1836,  the  precursor  of  so 
many  later  ones.  It  must  be  here  explained  that  Camp 
Holmes,  mentioned  as  the  place  where  the  first  trading  post 
with  the  Comanches  and  Wichitas  was  established,  was  situated 
in  American  territory,  in  the  Creek  country,  near  the  Canadian 
river,  at  about  latitude  35°  5'.  This  trade  must  have  been  im- 
portant, since  the  author  expressly  says,  “ as  far  as  Holmes  we 
had  a passable  wagon  road,  which  was  opened  on  the  occasion 
of  the  Indian  treaty  before  alluded  to,  and  was  afterwards  kept 
open  by  the  Indian  traders.” 

This  statement,  written  in  1839,  proves  that  for  four  years 
in  succession  the  Comanche  trade  had  been  kept  up,  since 
though  the  trading  post  of  Colonel  Chouteau  had  been  aban- 
doned since  1838,  the  road  to  Camp  Holmes  had  been  kept 
open  by  the  Indian  traders,  wdiich  shows  that  the  Indians 
either  sought  out  the  traders,  or  that  the  latter  came  to  Camp 
Holmes,  following  the  road  which  had  been  “ kept  open.” 

Our  author  next  relates  an  interview  he  had  with  an  Indian 
chief,  who  talked  a little  Spanish,  that  language  being  more  or 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


285 


less  known  by  the  Prairie  Indians.  Tabba-quena,  the  Indian 
chief,  showed  by  his  talk  that  he  was  well  acquainted  with  all 
the  Mexican  frontier  from  Santa  Fe  to  Chihuahua  and  thence 
to  the  Gulf,  as  well  as  with  all  the  prairie  region.  He  gave 
proof  of  this  by  making  a map  which  well  represented,  the 
principal  rivers,  the  plains,  t,he  road  from  Santa  Fe  to  Missouri, 
and  the  Mexican  posts  were  better  located  in  this  Indian 
sketch  than  in  the  printed  maps. 

This  fact  proves  the  continual  intercourse  of  the  Comanches 
with  the  American  establishments,  since  they  knew  them  well 
as  far  as  the  Missouri.  It  is  added  that  Tabba-quena  had  with 
him  about  sixty  persons,  including  squaws  and  boys,  and  also 
some  Kiowa  chiefs  and  warriors,  who,  although  belonging  to 
another  tribe,  are  frequently  found  living  with  the  Comanches. 
Tabba-quena  said  that  his  companions  had  gone  to  see  the 
“ Great  Captain,”  which  he  had  not  done,  because  he  turned 
back  to  get  better  horses,  and  the’  author  afterwards  learned 
that  the  Kiowas  had  really  been  at  Fort  Gibson,  and  had 
received  a considerable  present.  This  Indian  captain  was 
living  on  the  False  .Wachita,  in  territory  then  and  now  be- 
longing to  the  United  States  : 

“ We  succeeded  in  purchasing  several  mules,  which  cost  us 
between  ten  and  twenty  dollars’  worth  of  goods  apiece.  In 
Comanche  trade,  the  main  trouble  consists  in  tixing  the  price 
of  the  first  animal.  This  being  settled  by  the  chiefs,  it  often 
happens  that  mule  after  mule  is  led  up  and  the  price  received 
without  further  cavil.  The  Santa  Fe  caravans  have  generally 
avoided  every  manner  of  trade  with  the  wild  Indians,  for  fear 
of  being  treacherously  dealt  with  during  the  familiar  inter- 
course which  necessarily  ensues.  This  I am  convinced  is  an 
erroneous  impression,  for  I have  alwaj's  found  that  savages, 
are  much  less  hostile  to  those  with  whom  they  trade  than  to 
any  other  people.  They  are  emphatically  fond  of  trafiic,  and 
being  anxious  to  encourage  the  whites  to  come  among  them, 
instead  of  committing  depredations  upon  those  with  whom 
they  trade,  they  are  generally  read}’^  to  defend  them  against 
every  enemy.” 

The  Commission  has  extracted  these  details  concerning  the 
trade  with  the  Indians,  their  fondness  for  and  eagerness  to 
maintain  traffic,  in  order  to  point  out  the  connection  between 


286 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


this  free  intercourse  with  American  citizens  and  authorities, 
and  the  robberies  and  butcljeries  perpetrated  on  Mexican 
towns.  The  great  Indian  irruptions  can  only  be  explained  by 
these  antecedents.  There  must  have  been  a cause  for  the 
change  which  took  place  among  those  savage  hordes  in  1836, 
and  that  cause  cannot  be  other  than  the  trade  which  was 
begun  the  previous  year  at  Camp  Holmes  by  an  American 
colonel,  and  was  actively  continued  by  other  Americans,  in 
order  to  enrich  themselves  by  the  fabulous  gains  of  this  traffic. 
Another  cause  may  be  found  in  the  removal  of  the  Southern 
Indians  to  the  remotest  corner  of  the  American  territory,  in 
contact  with  the  savage  tribes  of  Mexico.  A brief  sketch  of 
the  avocations  of  the  said  tribes  on  their  last  reservations  will 
hereafter  be  given,  and  will  show  the  truth  of  the  inference 
which  has  just  been  drawn. 

As  the  especial  object  of  this  Commission,  according  to  its 
instructions,  is  to  investigate  tlie  damages  caused  by  Indians 
from  the  United  States  since  1818,  tlie  Commission  will  proceed 
to  state  the  results  obtained,  as  regards  the  State  of  Huevo 
Leon,  and  will  do  so  with  greater  minuteness  than  heretofore, 
because  the  depredations  have  been  immense  and  incalculable, 
and  because  this  State  being  the  central  one  of  those  which 
have  suffered  this  great  plague,  the  narrative  will  necessarily 
include  much  relating  to  the  neighboring  States,  and  from  it 
may  be  derived  authentic  conclusions  as  to  the  right  of  the 
citizens  to  indemnifiation,  and  the  responsibility  of  the  United 
States  to  make  it.  The  depredations  previous  to  1818  will 
first  be  summarily  treated  to  show  the  origin  of  the  re- 
sponsibility, aside  from  all  treaties,  according  to  natural  law. 

As  in  Tamaulipas,  the  public  archives  have  been  the  main 
source  of  information,  but  with  tlie  important  difference  that 
in  Nuevo  Leon  they  have  been  found  nearly  complete,  not 
having  suffered  the  same  spoliation  as  in  the  former  State,  which 
has  frequently  been  a victim  of  piratical  or  filibustering  ex- 
peditions, and  of  local  revolutions,  which  have  caused  the 
destruction  of  very  important  documents.  Another  source 
of  valuable  information  has  been  the  statements  of  the  most 
respectable  citizens  of  all  the  towns  visited,  especially  those 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


287 


who  have  held  public  positions,  or  have  been  leaders  of  ex- 
peditions against  the  Indians.  Tlie  Commission  is  therefore 
certain  of  having  ascertained  the  truth  upon  this  interesting 
topic,  and  feels  sure  that  the  results  will  attract  public  at- 
tention through  their  importance,  not  less  than  their  novelty 
to  most  readers,  though  the  facts  themselves  are  of  remote 
occurrence. 

The  government  of  Nuevo  Leon  had  barely  been  reinstated, 
about  the  middle  of  the  year  1848,  in  the  midst  of  the  diffi- 
culties incident  to  the  evacuation  of  the  posts  held  by  the 
American  troops  during  the  war,  when  its  attention  was  called, 
not  merely  to  the  evils  committed  in  the  towns  by  the  disor- 
derly troops  of  the  retiring  army,  but  to  the  invasions  of  the 
Comanches,  which  were  made  with  a violence  never  before 
seen.  From  the  15th  of  July,  1848,  when  the  authority  of 
Canas  (now  Mina)  reported  the  first  Comanche  incursion,  there 
was  not  a single  day  of  rest  for  the  government,  for  Villal- 
dama,  Lampazos,  Vallecillo,  Valenzuela  and  Salinas  continu- 
ally reported  other  an*'  'repeated  invasions.  From  these  commu- 
nications, which  have  all  been  compared  in  order  to  form  the 
annexed  statistical  table,  it  appears  that  104  Comanches  pene- 
trated into  the  center  of  those  towns,  besides  four  other  parties 
of  whieh  the  numbers  are  not  given,  but  calculating  them  at 
only  15  each,  they  bring  up  the  total  number  of  invaders  to 
164. 

Eleven  persons  killed,  three  wounded,  two  captives,  and 
droves  of  horses  and  mules  carried  off,  were  the  consequences 
of  these  incursions,  which  were  resisted  by  more  than  200  men 
of  the  towns  attacked,  and  by  a few  regular  troops  sent  in 
pursuit  by  the  commauder-in-chief.  Six  combats  with  the  In- 
dians, resulted  in  taking  from  them  saddles,  a captive  and  some 
cattle,  proved  that  they  were  Comanches,  and  that  the  local 
and  federal  authorities  complied  with  their  respective  duties. 

The  year  1849  w'as  usliered  in  by  an  attack  upon  Aguale- 
guas  by  a party  of  Comanches,  wliich  extended  its  foray  to 
every  one  of  the  northern  towns,  including  San  Nicolas  de  las 
Garzas,  three  leagues  from  Monterey.  More  than  500  Co- 
manches made  during  this  year  thirty-four  incursions,  killing 


288 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


thirtj-four  persons,  wounding  fourteen,  and  capturing  four,  be- 
sides the  usual  robbery  of  liorses,  which  may  be  safely  calcu- 
lated, in  accordance  with  official  data,  at  more  than  one  thou- 
sand. 

The  parties  of  citizens  and  soldiers  organized  to  resist  them 
equaled  the  number  of  invasions,  and  more  than  1,000  men 
were  this  year  engaged  in  pursuit,  fighting  the  Indians  in  three 
engagements,  recapturing  some  horses,  though  but  few,  for 
while  some  were  fighting  others  were  engaged  in  hurrying  off 
the  stolen  animals.  It  was  thus  noticed  in  all  the  engagements 
that  their  principal  care  was  to  preserve  their  booty,  making 
the  greatest  efforts  to  accomplish  this  object,  and  generally  suc- 
ceeding in  distancing  pursuit  by  the  rapidity  of  their  retreat. 

The  memoir  presented  to  the  Congress  of  liuevo  Leon,  in 
1850,  speaking  of  “public  security,”  said  : “that  of  this  State 
would  be  complete,  were  it  not  for  the  incursions  of  the  savage 
tribes,”  which  although  less  numerous  this  year  than  in  the 
other  frontier  States,  presented  the  horrible  picture  of  800 
Cornanches,  who  killed  21  men,  wounded  20,  captured  four 
children,  and  robbed  more  than  a thousand  animals.  The 
forces  employed  in  resistance,  besides  the  permanent  compa- 
nies, amounted  to  1,520  men,  organized  in  16  towns. 

The  Commission  cannot  refrain  from  mentioning  the  names 
of  these  towns,  and  the  number  of  assaults  they  experienced 
this  year,  for  this  will  give  an  exact  idea  of  their  sufferings. 
Yillaldama  was  nine  times  attacked  by  Cornanches,  Aguale- 
guas  seven,  Sabinas  Hidalgo  eight,  Cerralvo  two,  Marin  four, 
Mina  nine,  Salinas  Victoria  eight,  Bustamante  four,  Lampazos 
nine,  Vallecillo  ten,  Pesqueria  Chica  one,  Pesqueria  Grande  six, 
San  Nicolas  de  las  Garzas  two,  Abasolo  three,  San  Nicolas  Hi- 
dalgo three,  and  China  once — making  a total  of  86  incursions 
upon  16  towns  of  Nuevo  Leon,  in  a year  when  the  governor 
informed  Congress  that  their  forays  were  less  frequent  than  in 
the  other  frontier  States.  This  was  a fact,  and  if  the  proofs 
have  not  been  found,  through  the  incompleteness  of  the  archives, 
it  was  nevertheless  well  knowm  to  all  when  the  said  memoir 
was  published.  This  shows  in  what  manner  the  investigation 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


289 


of  depredations  in  jS^uevo  Leon  discloses  wliat  took  place  in 
other  States. 

Jfine  regular  campaigns  were  undertaken  by  order  of  tlie 
government,  besides  the  partial  pursuits  made  by  the  National 
Guard  of  each  invaded  town,  some  of  which  mustered  80  or  100 
men.  The  situation  produced  by  these  occurrences  attracted 
the  attention  of  the  press  in  the  capital  of  the  republic,  and  in 
announcing  the  events  of  the  frontier  it  was  said : 

“The  first  thing  that  meets  our  eyes  is  always  something 
about  savage  Indians.  Why  is  it  that  these  unhappy  towns  can 
never  free  themselves  from  this  horrible  plague?  Plans  of  defense 
are  devised,  funds  are  raised  for  the  war,  but  the  result  always  is 
that,  although  the  savages  are  sometimes  beaten,  the  towns 
never  have  a moment’s  rest.  Their  inhabitants  perish  at  the 
the  hands  of  the  savages,  or  are  carried  into  a fearful  captivity. 
Agriculture,  industry  and  commerce  relapse  into  insignificance,, 
the  revenues  cease,  tranquility  is  lost  by  constant  fear  of  the 
peril  which  threatens  life,  honor  and  family  interests ; all,  in 
short,  presents  the  most  doleful  picture  of  misfortune  and  deso- 
lation.” 

Everywhere  people  wondered  that  the  frontier  did  not  enjoy 
a moment’s  rest,  in  spite  of  all  the  plarfs  and  systems  devised  to 
repel  the  savages  ; the  desolation  of  the  beleaguered  towns  was 
felt  at  hundreds  of  miles’  distance.  Information  of  these  calam- 
ities must  have  reached  the  government  at  Washington,  for  the 
Indians  who  ravaged  Mexico  lived  in  the  United  States,  and 
they  paraded  their  spoils  in  full  view  of  the  military  chieftains. 
It  was,  then,  their  duty  to  prevent  this  mischief,  since  they  had 
expressly  contracted  by  treat}’’  to  do  so. 

In  the  midst  of  the  ruin  and  desolation  which  befel  a great 
part  of  the  republic,  the  general  government  of  Mexico  prepared 
to  unite  its  efforts  with  those  of  the  Lmited  States  to  carry  into 
effect  the  solemn  engagement  of  the  latter  to  prevent  such  in- 
vasions. With  this  object,  the  inspectors  of  the  East,  Chihua- 
hua and  the  AVest,  and  the  commanders  stationed  in  Coahuila, 
Nuevo  Leon,  Tamaulipas,  Durango,  Chihuahua  and  Sonora,  and 
the  prefect  of  Lower  California  were  instructed  : 

“ 1st.  Under  their  own  strict  responsibility  to  grant  no  peace 


19 


290 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


and  to  wage  vigorous  war  with  tlie  savage  Comanches,  Apaches, 
Lipans  and  other  tribes  who  roam  through  the  American  ter- 
ritory, witliout  forming  settlements  or  cultivating  the  ground 
like  other  tribes,  but  devote  themselves  entirely  to  Ininting  and 
warfare  of  an  atrocious  character,  not  only  when  they  emigrate 
from  the  United  States  under  an  appearance  of  peace,  but  also 
when  they  may  be  driven  thence  by  force  of  arms.  2d.  To 
make  no  truce,  peace  or  agreement  with  any  other  savages,  not 
included  in  the  above  category,  without  awaiting  the  decision 
of  the  supreme  government,  to  whom  a report  must  be  sent  as 
to  the  circumstances  and  the  condition  of  the  tribe  which  may 
desire  to  make  peace.” 

When  the  supreme  government,  on  the  10th  of  September, 
1850,  forwarded  the  above  rules  for  the  guidance  of  its  officers 
in  their  dealings  with  the  savages,  it  treated  all  agreements  for 
peace  as  imprudent,  because  they  would  weaken  the  force  of  the 
•unquestionable  obligation  undertaken  by  the  United  States  to 
put  down  and  chastise  the  Indian  incursions. 

The  statesman  who  formed  the  above  resolutions  took  into 
consideration  all  that  was  occurring  along  the  vast  extent  of  the 
Mexican  frontier,  and  knew  that,  in  spite  of  all  the  efforts  of 
government  and  people  to  suppress  Indian  depredations,  there 
was  no  other  means  of  success  than  in  the  fulfillment  of 
the  solemn  obligation  of  the  United  States.  While  awaiting 
such  action  on  the  part  of  the  American  government,  he  ar- 
ranged and  prepared  everything  to  facilitate  it,  and  took  care, 
above  all,  that  no  act  should  weaken  the  binding  force  of  the 
obligation.  That  the  savages  should  cause  greater  ruin  and 
sacrifice  more  victims  was  preferable  to  losing  the  rights  given 
by  nature  and  by  solemn  compact.  The  war  was,  therefore,  to 
be  accepted  and  waged  at  whatever  sacrifice. 

The  State  governments  acted  in  harmony  with  that  of  the 
Federation,  and  at  the  time  the  above  measures  were  taken  a 
plan  of  defense  was  published  in  Nuevo  Leon,  declaring  a war 
of  extermination  against  the  savages. 

Taking  into  account  the  deserts,  the  hiding  places  ofifered 
by  the  mountains,  the  agility  of  the  savages,  their  endurance, 
astuteness,  and  dexterity  in  their  peculiar  mode  of  warfare, 
rules  were  drawn  up  to  meet  all  these  requirements;  a decree 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


291 


was  promulgated  and  carried  at  once  into  etfect.  It  was  high 
time,  for,  as  has  been  seen,  the  evil  had  assumed  enormous  pro- 
portions, which  engaged  at  once  every  sentiment  of  pride, 
dignity,  and  honor ; and  the  government  could  therefore  say 
in  the  circular  which  accompanied  the  plan  of  defense,  “ Who, 
in  contemplating  this  picture  which  would  horrify  the  most 
apathetic  citizen,  does  not  hear  the  imperious  voice  of  duty  and 
honor  demanding  that  a remedy  be  found  for  all  these  evils?” 

All  the  elements  and  resources  of  Huevo  Leon,  having  been 
brought  to  bear  upon  the  remedy  of  the  situation,  the  Indian 
war  presented  a more  favorable  aspect  in  1851.  The  memoir 
published  by  the  government  in  this  year  contained  the  follow- 
ing words  : 

“ The  idea,  which  was  I’oughly  suggested  in  the  previ- 
ous memoir,  concerning  the  means  of  defense  against  the  sav- 
ages, was  carried  into  etfect.  The  towns  were  provided  with 
a sufficiency  of  arms,  ammunition,  and  pecutiiary  resources,  and 
the  ferocious  savage  learned  to  his  surprise  and  his  cost  that  the 
State  will  not  quietly  endure  the  evils  he  is  accustomed  to  in- 
flict.” 

Nevertheless,  the  Commission  found  sixty-eight  incursions 
recorded  during  tliis  year,  made  against  the  same  towns  by 
about  600  Indians.  The  losses  were  36  killed,  33  wounded, 
and  12  captives,  besides  about  300  horses. 

By  order  of  the  government,  and  in  accordance  with  the 
plan  of  defense  approved  on  the  20th  of  September  of  the  pre- 
ceding year,  four  expeditions  were  organized,  and  the  pursuit 
of  the  Indians  was  more  active  and  effective  than  ever.  The 
greater  number  of  the  killed  was  the  result  of  eight  engage- 
ments, which  took  place  either  in  the  immediate  pursuit  or  in 
the  desert  fastnesses,  where  the  Indians  brought  together  their 
booty,  and  whence  thej’  sent  out  small  parties  into  the  northern 
districts  of  Nuevo  Leon. 

The  severe  punishment  and  loss  of  life  inflicted  on  the 
Indians  in  the  active  campaign  everywhere  undertaken,  is  fully 
set  forth  in  the  official  reports,  and  it  was  seen  that  united 
action  and  a proper  distribution  of  the  forces,  which  were  the 
chief  elements  of  the  plan  of  defense,  would  produce  favorable 


292 


KEPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


results,  after  a little  experience.  The  forces  employed  this 
year  amounted  to  more  than  1,000  men. 

The  savages  acted  as  if  tliey  comprehended  that  they  were 
the  object  of  a combined  action  on  the  part  of  the  government 
and  people,  and  meant  to  prove  their  valor  and  real  power, 
corning,  in  1852,  in  greater  numbers  and  more  frequently  than 
ever’.  There  were,  consequently,  more  killed,  moi’o  wounded, 
more  captives,  and  greater  robberies.  Ninety-two  attacks  were 
made  upon  herdsmen,  laborers,  and  ti-avelers  by  parties  of 
greater  or  less  size,  and  it  is  authentically  shown  that  more 
than  1,000  savages  were  concerned  in  them. 

About  2,000  men  were  employed  in  a pursuit  which  was 
carried  into  the  rndest  fastnesses  of  the  mountains,  at  a sacrifice 
of  62  killed,  30  wounded,  and  16  captives,  and  the  usual  ac- 
companiment of  horses  and  mules  srolen,  amounting  to  more 
than  500.  A real  war  was  now  being  waged  ; eight  large  ex- 
peditions were  sent  out  on  formal  campaigns,  ten  engagements 
took  place,  in  all  which  the  Indians  were  beaten  with  loss,  and 
over  200  horses  and  mules  were  recaptured. 

In  the  following  year,  1853,  the  Indians  were  distributed  in 
smaller  parties  of  fifty,  thirty,  twenty,  ten,  or  even  five,  and  thus 
made  77  incursions  in  the  north  and  west  of  the  State,  causing 
a loss  of  35  killed,  23  wounded,  6 captives,  and  some  300  horses 
stolen.  About  1,500  men  belonging  to  the  companies  already 
organized  in  the  towns  were  employed  in  pursuit ; four  en- 
gagements took  place,  with  notable  loss  to  the  savages,  and, 
there  being  800  of  them  scattered  in  small  parties,  many  minor 
chastisements  inflicted  upon  them  escaped  official  notice. 

To  the  list  of  towns  which  had  been  annually,  and  some- 
times daily,  assailed  since  1818  without  a moment’s  intermis- 
sion, there  must  now  be  added,  for  the  3"ear  1851,  the  names  of 
towns  which  had  never  before  been  attacked,  such  as  Linares, 
Montemorelos,  San  Pedro  de  Itiirbide,  Galeana,  Doctor  Arroyo, 
and  Rio  Blanco,  the  two  former  situated  to  the  south  of  Mon- 
teiy,  on  the  road  to  Yictoria,  at  the  foot  of  the  Sierra  Madre, 
the  third  in  the  heart  of  the  Sierra,  and  the  rest  on  the  other 
side  of  the  mountains,  a hundred  leagues  from  the  State  capital. 

This  change  of  tactics  on  the  part  of  the  Indians  was  un- 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION.  293 

w 

doubtedlj  occasioned  by  their  conviction  that  they  could  no 
longer  overcome  the  resistance  made  to  them  in  all  quarters, 
and  also  in  g-reat  measure  to  the  fact  of  the  diminution  of  the 
number  of  horses  in  the  towns  they  had  so  frequently  visited. 
They  thought  it  possible  to  obtain  a larger  number,  which  they 
wanted  for  their  system  of  exchange,  by  attacking  otlier  dis- 
tricts, as  yet  unacciistumed  to  their  spoliations,  where  they 
might  satisfy  their  thirst  for  blood. 

Although  the  Comanches  are  astute  in  robbery,  dexterous 
in  self-defense,  and  daring  in  attack  when  in  sufficient  force, 
all  wliich  qualities  they  have  acquired  during  several  genera- 
tions of  border  wai-fare,  they  nevertheless  had  not  shown 
therein  any  knowledge  of  real  military  science,  carrying  on 
their  early  wars,  as  has  been  said,  rather  from  vengeance  than 
for  the  sake  of  spoils.  Tactical  warfare  was  not  known  or 
practiced  by  them  until  after  1840,  and  its  date  may  be  more 
correctly  assigned  to  about  the  year  1848.  ‘ On  their  ancient 
system  they  staked  the  success  of  their  campaigns  upon  the 
number  of  foray'’,;  they  sent  forth  one  or  two  thousands  of 
prairie  warriors,  appeared  at  many  points  at  once,  robbing  im- 
mense numbers  of  horses  and  mules,  which  they  carried  off  in 
triumph  to  theii^ chosen  retreats;  but  tliey  never  once  failed  to 
be  defeated  in  their  larger  masses,  as  happened  at  the  “ Llano 
de  Ramirez,”  at  Huizachal,  at  El  Pozo,  and,  as  will  be  seen 
hereafter,  at  La  Oracion,  Kosita  and  other  places. 

A superior  intelligence,  an  intelligence  not  native  to  the 
Indians,  must  necessarily  have  suggested  to  them  their  change 
of  tactics.  As  their  object  was  to  steal  horses  and  conduct 
them  in  safety  to  their  market,  another  plan  was  devised,  which 
consisted  in  meeting  together  in  large  numbers  at  a given  ren- 
dezvous witliiu  Mexican  territory,  at  some  place  advantageously 
located  for  defense,  far  away  from  settlements  and  unknown  to 
their  victims;  to  fortify  themselves  therein  with  all  possible 
secrecy  and  precaution  ; from  these  headquarters  to  carry  out 
their  simultaneous  forays,  returning  there  with  their  booty,  and 
repeating,  the  operation  as  often  as  possible,  until  the  time  came 
to  carry  off  at  once  their  immense  booty  to  the  United  States. 

Those  who  know  something  of  the  Indians;  those  who  have 


294 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


studied  their  habits  and  followed  step  by  step  the  incidents  of 
their  nomadic  and  warlike  life,  must  agree  that  such  combina- 
tions could  not  originate  with  them,  and  that  they  have  been 
taught  them  by  civilized  men,  without  heart  or  conscience,  who 
desire  by  their  means  to  realize  gigantic  speculations. 

In  August,  1854,  the  Indians  had  passed  that  massive  range 
of  the  Sierra  Madre,  which  would  seem  to  be  an  unsurmount- 
able  wall  of  defense,  and  the  towns  of  San  Pedro  de  Iturbide, 
Galeana,  Doctor  Arroyo  and  Rio  Blanco  suddenly  beheld  the 
sanguinary  tomahawk  of  the  savages  hurled  at  the  heads  of 
their  inmates.  A hundred  and  ten  Comanches,  in  a single 
body,  attacked  those  unsuspecting  settlements  with  the  result 
which  is  shown  in  the  following  communication,  which  is  text- 
ually  inserted  here : 


“ Galeaka,  August  15th,  1854. 

“ To  the  Governor  of  the  Department  of  Nuevo  Leon : 

‘‘  Most  Excellent  Sle  : 

“By  the' inclosed  original  reports,  yon.!  excellency  will 
learn  that  the  savages,  to  the  number  of  about  100,  have  in- 
vaded this  municipality,  committing  acts  of  the  most  horrid 
cruelty  at  the  place  called  ‘ Penuelo,’  where  tlfey  murdered  all 
the  inhabitants,  consisting  entirely  of  defenseless  women  and 
children,  the  men  being  all  in  the  country  tending  their  cattle, 
which  they  were  taking  to  the  Department  of  Zacatecas. 
These  lamentable  occurrences  have  thrown  this  town  into  the 
greatest  consternation,  and  the  commissariat  under  my  charge 
in  these  sad  circumstances,  has,  by  making  use  of  every  resource, 
armed  and  mounted  twelve  men  of  this  town  for  the  speedy 
relief  of  the  hacienda  ‘ Potosi,’  where  the  arrival  of  the  terrible 
enemy  is  momentarily  expected,  and  which  is  exposed  to  all  the 
devastations  of  the  savage,  it  being  without  men  and  without 
arms.  It  would  be  difficult,  excellent  sir,  to  describe  the 
lamentable  picture  presented  by  the  estate  where  the  tragic 
event  occurred,  and  the  sentiments  of  Christian  men  are  horri- 
fied at  the  sight ; but  it  appears  to  me  that  at  present  our  at- 
tention should  be  exclusively  given  to  the  more  important  duty 
of  burying  the  dead,  and  aiding  other  places  exposed  to  the 
same  fate  as  the  ruined  hamlet  of  Penuelo.  Yes,  most  excel- 
lent sir,  the  innocent  blood  of  more  than  200  victims  is  still 
reeking  in  the  fields  of  Penuelo  calling  aloud  for  vengeance  ; 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


295 


and  this  municipality,  being  unable  from  its  poverty,  to  arm 
and  mount  even  one  hundred  men,  earnestly  and  respectfully 
implores  your  excellency  to  impart  your  paternal  protection  in 
the  manner  you  may  find  most  expedient,  supplying  us  with 
arms  and  ammunition  for  our  defense  against  so  atrocious  an 
enemy,  and  for  punishing  him  if  possible,  whenever  he  shall 
again  appear  within  this  district. 

“ Pedro  Pereyra.” 

While  these  disasters  were  occurring  at  such  a distance 
from  the  capital  that  it  was  impossible  to  render  timely  aid 
and  succor  to  the  hapless  sufferers,  many  other  districts  of  the 
State  were  overrun  by  small  parties  of  ten  or  fifteen  Indians, 
and  by  larger  ones  of  two  or  three  hundred  each,  killing  in  this 
year  fifty-six  persons,  wounding  thirty-five,  taking  captive 
nineteen,  and  carrying  off  600  animals.  An  active  pursuit  of 
these  scattered  parties  through  mountains,  plains,  and  forests, 
with  the  greatest  zeal,  by  1,600  men,  gave  no  better  result 
than  the  I’ecapture  of  sixty  animals  and  a small  amount  of 
other  booty,  effected  in  four  engagements  against  more  than 
400  Comanches. 

On  account  of  the  ever-increasing  energy  displayed  by 
authorities  and  people  in  the  pursuit  and  chastisement  of  the 
savages,  who  were  worsted  in  every  encounter,  there  were  in 
1855  only  twenty-seven  forays,  two  of  which  were  upon  towns 
to  the  south  of  the  Sierra.  In  that  year  there  were  only  forty- 
four  killed,  three  wounded,  and  two  captives.  The  invaders 
numbered  more  than  200,  and  the  six  towns  assailed  sent 
against  them  500  men,  who,  however,  only  once  overtook 
them. 

In  the  next  year,  1856,  there  were  seventy-three  forays 
against  the  northern  towns  of  Nuevo  Leon,  but  the  losses  were 
less,  amounting  only  to  twenty-five  killed,  fifteen  wounded, 
three  captives,  and  barely  100  animals  stolen.  The  govern- 
ment and  people,  stimulated  by  the  successful  result  of  their 
systematic  and  well-combined  defense,  were  more  active  than 
usual.  Ten  expeditions  were  sent  against  the  Indians,  and  al- 
though no  regular  battle  took  place,  tbe  savages  perceived  that 
they  were  awaited  and  vigorously  pursued,  and  that  they  could 


96 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


no  longer  commit  their  usual  depredations  with  impunity. 
More  than  2,000  men  were  employed  against  about  500  In- 
dians. 

It  should  be  stated  that  all  that  was  done  against  the  sav- 
ages, in  1855  and  1856,  was  at  a time  when  Nuevo  Leon  and 
all  the  frontier  was  engaged  in  a political  war,  defending  their 
principles  by  means  of  armies  which  were  sent  into  the  interior 
of  the  country,  and  which  were  kept  there  until  the  conflict 
was  decided  in  favor  of  the  liberal  cause  tliey  had  espoused. 
The  Indian  war  was  not,  however,  neglected,  but,  on  the  con- 
trary, it  was  undertaken  more  vigorously  than  ever,  so  as  to 
keep  in  the  interior  of  the  republic  that  army  of  citizens  which 
would  instantly  have  returned  at  the  first  news  of  danger  to 
their  families. 

Tlie  Commission  relates  this  circumstance,  because  it  is 
honorable  at  once  to  the  government  and  to  the  people,  and 
shows  the  real  importance  always  given  to  the  war  with  the 
savages,  wdiich  was  never  neglected  either  by  government  or 
people,  even  in-  times  of  civil  or  foreign  w'ars. 

In  1857,  the  invasions  followed  the  ordinary  course  of  pre- 
vious years ; there  were  eighty-nine  forays  upon  the  northern 
towns,  which  lost  forty-five  men  killed,  twenty-six  wounded, 
thirteen  captives,  and  three  hundred  horses.  Parties  of  Na- 
tional Guards,  composed  of  from  seventy  down  to  ten  men, 
were  constantly  sent  against  the  invaders,  2,000  men  having 
been  thus  employed.  With  the  exception  of  thirty  Lipans, 
who  attacked  Mina,  the  other  assailants  were  Comanches.  It 
w’as  noticed  that  in  the  same  month,  and  almost  at  the  same 
time,  they  fell  upon  six  diflferent  towms,  all  of  them  being  re- 
mote from  their  usual  theater  of  operations.  During  this  year, 
as  in  the  preceding,  the  parties  of  Indians  who  gave  occupation 
to  an  army  of  2,000  Mexicans  were  never  larger  than  thirty, 
and  sometimes  consisted  of  only  three  or  four. 

It  seems  incredible  that  so  small  a number  of  savages  could 
cause  so  much  woe  and  escape  punishment,  even  when  con- 
stantly pursued  by  the  combined  forces  of  the  towns  surround- 
ing the  theater  of  their  depredations.  Let  this  was  generally 
the  case,  and  can  only  be  explained  by  the  nature  of  the  ground. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


297 


wliicli  offers  rare  facilities  for  guerrilla  warfare  through  its  al- 
most impenetrable  forests  and  its  many  nigged  mountains. 

These  considerations  may  explain  the  comparative  impunity 
of  the  Indians  themselves,  but  not  their  success  in  carrying  off 
their  booty ; it  has,  however,  been  mentioned  that  their  fii-st 
care  is  to  secure  their  spoils,  by  sending  a portion  of  their  num- 
ber in  all  haste  to  place  them  beyond  reach,  while  the  remain- 
der, concealed  in  the  mountains,  await  other  opportunities  for 
new  depredations. 

The  grand  total  of  the  ten  years  examined,  from  1847  to 
1857,  shows  as  the  result,  652  persons  killed,  wounded,  and 
carried  captive,  although  the  services  of  more  than  12,000  men 
were  employed  in  their  pursuit,  attacking  them  whenever  it 
was  possible.  During  this  period  the  savage  invaders  num- 
bered more  than  5,000,  an  average  of  500  each  year. 

The  preceding  calculation  having  been  formed  upon  the  re- 
ports made  to  the  government,  in  which  the  number  of  hostile 
Indians  is  not  always  mentioned,  as  is  also  the  case  respecting 
the  parties  of  citizens  sent  against  them,  the  Commission  feels 
sure  that  even  double  the  number  both  of  enemies  and  of  armed 
citizens  would  fall  short  of  the  real  truth.  But  the  numbers 
given  above  suffice  to  prove  the  persistency  of  the  war,  and  the 
immense  extent  of  the  evils  thereby  caused.  In  ten  years  the 
State  of  ISTuevo  Leon  lost  650  of  her  best  sons,  and  in  each  year 
1,500  of  her  citizens  were  constantly  under  arms  to  hasten  to  the 
relief  of  the  places  attacked,  which  comprised,  at  one  time  or 
other,  almost  all  the  towns  of  the  State.  Even  the  few  which 
have  not  been  directly  ravaged,  have  suffered  their  share  of  the 
robberies  and  butcheries  which  marked  the  path,  of  the  bar- 
barians. 

The  solicitude  of  the  State  and  gieneral  o-overnments  could 
not  exceed  the  requirements  of  the  afflicting  situation.  The 
plan  of  defense  of  the  20th  of  September,  1850,  provided  meas- 
ures so  prudent  and  efficacious,  that,  without  them,  the  ruin 
would  have  been  complete.  The  supreme  government  created 
new  military  colonies,  and  put  into  operation  the  same  scheme 
of  warfare  established  by  the  ancient  presidios^  which  were  now 
replaced  by  these  colonies.  fSTothiug  that  could  tend  to  the  ex- 


298 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


tinction  of  the  Indian  war  was  omitted,  and  if  it  still  exists,  the 
reason  is  obvious — tlie  aggressors  li\*e  in  the  territory  of  another 
nation,  where  they  are  encouraged,  befriended  and  almost  im- 
pelled to  wage  this  warfare  with  the  persistency  they  have 
shown  therein. 

The  national  Congress  appointed  a committee  of  its  mem- 
bers to  draw  np  a project  containing  suitable  measures  for  plat- 
ting an  end  to  the  growing  evil  of  these  invasions ; and  the  ar- 
gument of  their  plan  contained  the  following  declaration  : 

“The  11th  article  of  the  Treat}’^  of  Peace  between  Me.xico 
and  the  United  States,  if  carried  into  effect  carefully  and  in 
good  faith,  would  supply  the  means  of  radically  terminating 
the  Indian  war.  The  exact  fulfillment  of  this  article  would 
sutfice  to  invigorate  the  defense  of  the  frontier  States,  and  would 
soon  extirpate  the  war  which  is  devouring  them. , The  Junta 
ought  never  to  lose  sight  of  that  article,  and  we  therefore  pro- 
pose that  the  general  government  be  requested  to  furnish  a re- 
])ort  upon  this  important  point,  as  a basis  upon  which  to  predi- 
cate the  action  most  expedient  for  the  welfare  of  the  States  in 
question.” 

In  the  same  year  (1819),  the  Junta  of  Congress,  being  de- 
sirous to  perform  its  task  faithfully,  called  upon  the  military 
commanders  in  the  frontier  States  and  the  inspectors  of  the  col- 
onies to  emit  their  opinion  upon  the  best  means  for  the  defense 
and  security  of  the  border.  Tlie  comraander-in-chief  in  ISTuevo 
Leon,  who  was  also  inspector  general  of  the  eastern  colonies, 
gave  his  report  on  the  8th  of  July  of  that  year,  and,  among 
other  things,  he  wrote  as  follows : 

“ In  the  midst  of  the  necessity  and  despair  which  so  great 
sufferings  have  produced,  the  idea  has  several  times  occuri-ed 
of  imitating  the  conduct  of  the  Spanish  soldier,  Don  Juan  de 
Ugalde,  by  carrying  tbe  war  into  the  deserts,  and  attacking  the 
savages  in  their  own  -haunts.  Some  State  governors,  who  have 
heretofore  tried  this  plan  separately,  found  that  the  barbarians 
forestalled  their  efforts  by  carrying  their  families  far  to  the 
north,  to  hiding  places  unknown  to  the  Mexicans,  and  then  fol- 
lowed the  footsteps  of  these  exploring  parties,  falling  upon 
them  and  wreaking  vengeance  at  unguarded  moments.  This 
plan  is  out  of  the  question  at  the  present  day,  because  our 
frontier  being  now  the  Rio  Grande,  it  is  incumbent  upon  the 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


299 


government  of  the  United  States  to  restrain  the  incursions  of 
the  Indians,  in  fnltillment  of  the  obligation  contracted  by  tlie 
11th  article  of  tlie  Treaty  of  Guadalupe  Hidalgo,  and  under 
these  circumstances,  how  could  the  war  be  carried,  without 
danger  of  reclamations,  into  a desert  which  is  not  our  prop- 
erty ? ” 

• 

After  the  careful  examination  which  Inspector  Jauregui 
made  of  all  the  plans  devised  for  the  defense  of  the  frontier, 
under  the  new  situation,  so  different  from  that  of  1772,  when 
the  plan  of  jpresidios  was  adopted  ; after  depicting  with  excel- 
lent judgment  the  differing  aspect  of  affairs  at  a time  when  the 
savages  were  always  punished  by  the  forces  which  garrisoned 
the  frontier,  noth  withstanding  their  excellent  arms  and  their 
dexterity  ; he  concludes  that  their  present  abode  being  on 
foreign  soil,  and  consequently  beyond  reach,  the  only  means  of 
preventing  their  depredations  would  be  to  obtain  from  the 
Government  of  the  United  States,  the  fulfillment  of  the  11th 
Article  of  the  Treaty  of  Guadalupe  Hidalgo,  and  to  combine 
some  new  civic  militia  with  the  reestablished  military  colonies. 

The  brevity  of  this  report  will  not  permit  the  Commission 
here  to  enumerate  separately  all  the  measures  adopted  by  the 
General  or  the  State  Government  for  remedying  the  evils 
caused  by  the  Indian  invasions.  Ho  absolute  success  was  at- 
tained, but  a situation  more  favorable  than  that  of  the  United 
States  was  reached,  as  may  be  seen  from  the  following  article, 
found  in  the  official  newspaper  of  Nuevo  Leon  of  the  31st  of 
May,  1849  : 

“ Matamoros,  May,  14th,  1849. 

“On  Thursday,  the  10th  instant,  at  11  o’clock,  P.  M.,  two 
or  three  merchants  came  to  the  house  of  General  Francisco 
Avalos,  bearing  a communication  from  the  first  judge  of  Came- 
ron county  (Brownsville),  Mr.  J.  B.  Bigelow,  in  which  he  re- 
quested that  some  cavalry  be  sent  to  las  aid  to  repel  a party 
of  savages  which  was  marauding  near  Palo  Alto,  and  which,  it 
was  feared,  might  approach  Brownsville  and  other  towns  on 
the  river.  General  Avalos,  as  was  natural,  called  together  the 
necessary  forces,  but  at  the  same  time  replied  to  Judge  Bige- 
low, that  inasmuch  as  Mexican  soldiers  ought  not  to  cross  the 
river  without  the  express  consent  of  the  American  military 


300 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


commander,  lie  should  wait  for  an  official  invitation,  to  avoid 
all  pretext  for  future  complaint  or  reclamation.  Many  Ameri- 
can and  Mexican  families  living  on  the  left  of  the  Eio  Grande 
have  crossed  to  this  city  to  escape  danger  from  the  ferocity  of 
the  savages.  Judge  Bigelow,  in  another  communication  to 
General  Avalos,  said  that  the  American  commander  had  de- 
clined to  interfere  in  the  miftter,  and  tliat  he  was  therefore 
obliged  to  dispense  with  the  -aid  which  the  general  was  kind 
enough  to  afford  him.  Consequently,  the  Mexican  troops 
withdrew  from  the  river  bank  to  their  respective  barracks.” 

This  incident,  thus  recorded  in  the  newspaper  “ El  Bien 
Publico”  printed  in  sight  of  the  city  of  Brownsville,  needs  no 
comment,  and  shows  how  well  the  stipulations  of  the  treaty  of 
Guadalupe  Hidalgo  were  complied  with  in  the  second  year 
after  its  signing.  The  American  Government,  up  to  that 
time  had  taken  no  measures  to  protect  its  own  citizens,  much 
less  those  of  Mexico,  from  the  ravages  of  savages  dwelling 
within  its  territory. 

The  newspaper  already  cited  affords  information  that  the 
rancho  “ El  Capote,”  within  the  jurisdiction  of  Matamoros, 
was  invaded  by  Indians,  and  that  another  party  was  seen  across 
the  river.  The  Mexican  ranchos  were  protected  by  cavalry 
troops  ill] mediately  sent  out. 

Tills  unprotected  condition  of  the  American  frontier  still 
continued  in  1853,  and  undoubtedly  led  to  greater  activity  on 
the  part  of  Mexicans  in  the  ensuing  years,  in  organizing  and 
directing  a real  army  of  operations,  Avhieh  always  obtained 
favorable  results  in  the  pursuit  of  the  savages. 

AVithin  the  period  under  considerat’on,  the  authorities  of 
Nuevo  Leon  took  the  initiative  in  carrying  out  the  new  plan  of 
defense,  efficiently  aided  by  the  military  colonies,  and  organized 
a coalition  of  the  frontier  States,  by  means  of  Commissioners, 
who  met  together  and  drew  up  a scheme  similar  to  that  already 
adopted  by  Nuevo  Leon.  Notwithstanding  these  efforts,  the 
lives  sacrificed,  the  captives  carried  off  to  be  trained  up  as 
enemies  of  their  own  kindred,  and  the  property  stolen  and  de- 
stroyed could  not  be  repaid  by  many  millions  of  money,  for 
beyond  the  material  loss  was  felt  the  paralyzation  of  all  indus- 
try, especially  stock-raising  and  agriculture,  which  were  com- 


NORTHERX  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


301 


pletely  abandoned  when  it  was  found  by  costly  experience  that 
the  efforts  of  both  State  and  National  governments  were  in- 
effectual to  prevent  the  depredations  of  the  savage. 

Before  continuing  the  narrative  of  the  events  of  the  second 
decade,  and  having  already  summarily  related  the  losses  suffered 
by  the  State  of  Nuevo  Leon  up  to  1857,  it  will  here  be  fitting 
to  give  a slight  idea  of  the  operations  directed  by  the  military 
headquarters  established  at  Monterey  under  the  auspices  of  the 
War  Department. 

It  appears  from  the  archives  of  the  said  headquarters,  that 
from  the  month  of  September,  ISIS,  it  sent  troops  for  the  pro- 
tection of  Lampazos ; that  it  placed  a force  of  dragoons  at 
Mamulique  for  the  defense  of  the  adjoining  towns  ; that  it  had 
an  officer  employed  in  operations  at  “ Ceja  Colorada,”  beyond 
Ciudad  Guerrero;  that  it  executed  an  order  from  the  Depart- 
ment of  Foreign  Affairs  to  remove  the  “ Taracanhuaces  ” In- 
dians from  Laguna  de  Lara,  whither  they  had  come,  escaping 
from  pursuit  by  Amei’ican  foi’ces  in  Texas ; that  it  provided 
Lampazos  with  a piece  of  artillery  for  its  defense,  not  only 
against  Indians,  but  also  against  American  adventurers  who 
threatened  to  attack  it ; that  for  the  same  purpose  it  sent  100 
men  under  Commandant  Pozas  to  defend  that  town  from  80 
Americans  discharged  from  the  retiring  army  ; all  which  meas- 
ures were  approved  by  General  Mifion,  who  was  at  Saltillo. 

While  watching  over  the  safety  of  a portion  of  the  frontier, 
the  troops  of  the  general  government  routed  a body  of  Indians 
in  Januai’y,  1849,  recapturing  considerable  booty  ; and,  lastly, 
while  penetrating  into  the  desert  in  search  of  the  common 
enemy,  tliey  united  with  the  civil  authority  in  selecting  lands 
suitable  for  a colony. 

Still  more  vigorous  action  was  displayed  in  1850.  The 
military  colony  of  San  Yicente,  located  in  the  desert  120 
leagues  north  of  Monterey,  routed  the  Lipan  and  Mescalero 
Indians,  killing  five  and  wounding  twenty-two.  In  Lampazos, 
two  parties  were  sent  against  invading  Indians,  two  others  in 
Salinas;  the  Comanches  were  attacked  at  “ Pajaros  Azules  ” 
in  combination  with  the  local  militia,  and'an  expedition  was 
equipped  in  union  with  the  military  colonies  to  penetrate  the 
desert  as  far  as  the  “ Laguna  de  Jaco.” 


i. 


302 


EErORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


Certain  information  was  given  by  the  officers  of  Fort  Mc- 
Intosh to  the  military  colonies  at  Monterey  Laredo  in  January, 
1851,  that  the  American  government  had  made  peace  with 
several  tribes  of  Comanches,  and  this  news  was  corroborated  in 
March  by  the  fact  of  eight  Indians  of  that  tribe  soliciting  peace 
with  Mexico. 

Four  captives,  natives  of  »Xuevo  Leon,  were  this  year  ran- 
somed by  American  troops,  and  the  State  government  refused 
to  pay  the  eigh.ty  dollars  advanced  for  this  purpose,  on  the 
ground  of  the  obligation  contracted  in  the  llth  article  of  the 
treaty  of  Guadalupe  Hidalgo.  The  year  terminated  with  a 
peremptory  order  from  the  AYar  Department  to  send  a respect- 
able force  to  the  hill  of  Panico  to  dislodge  the  Indians  there 
collected,  thus  proving  that  even  in  the  capital  of  the  republic 
the  occurrences  on  this  remote  northern  frontier  were  noticed. 

In  February,  1852,  the  eominander-in-chief  at  Monterey 
was  informed  by  the  government  of  Xuevo  Leon  that  a party 
of  Comanches  had  killed  every  inhabitant  at  Bajan,  in  Coa- 
huila,  and  at  the  same  time  learned  from  the  authorities  at 
A^allecillo  that  a party  of  200  Americans  and  Texan  Mexicans 
were  preparing  an  invasion  of  that  municipality  under  the  same 
leader  who  had  made  a similar  attempt  two  months  before. 
Tlie  situation  presented  to  the  governor  and  to  the  commander 
iu  Nuevo  Leon  by  such  menaces  was  embarrassing  and  cruel. 
Ferocious  hordes  of  savages  were  desolating  the  towns,  and 
were  abetted  by  native  and  adopted  citizens  of  the  United 
States,  in  whose  territory  they  were  openly  organized.  Not- 
withstanding, both  those  authorities  attended  to  the  double 
menace,  and  in  September  a party  of  Indians  was  totally  de- 
stroyed at  Capulin,  where  more  than  200  animals  were  recap- 
tured. 

Diirina:  the  vear  1853,  in  accordance  with  the  instructions 
of  the  supreme  government  of  the  republic,  the  commander  in 
Nuevo  Leon  extended  a protecting  hand  to  the  State  of  Coa- 
huila,  in  whose  capital  he  placed  a garrison,  which  was  immedi- 
ately employed  in  the  pursuit  of  the  Indians  who  appeared  at 
San  Jose  and  at  Florida. 

Once  more  the  tidings  of  attacks  designed  by  filibusters 


f 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


303 


obliged  the  governor  and  the  commandant  of  x^nevo  Leon,  the 
latter  of  whom  was  now  at  Mier,  to  act  at  the  same  time  against 
two  enemies.  The  forces  of  Colonel  Zuazua,  employed  exclu- 
sively against  the  savages,  were  ordered  to  fall  back  to  the 
south,  so  as  to  protect  Salinas,  Yallecillo  and  other  towns  along 
that  line,  while  Colonel  Caso  was,  for  the  same  reason,  ordered 
to  proceed  to  Villaldama.  Suclv  was  the  anxiety  of  the  gov- 
ernment to  stimulate  the  war  with  the  Indians,  that  the  com- 
mandant was  ordered  to  watch  closely  the  movements  of  the 
filibusters,  and  should  they  desist,  as  was  probable,  to  send  his 
National  Guards  into  the  desert  in  search  of  the  Indians,  which 
was  accordingly  done  and  duly  reported  to  the  War  Depart- 
ment. 

While  the  permanent  forces  of  the  republic  attended  to  the 
danger  from  filibusters,  other  forces  were  operating  against 
the  Indians  at  Agnanueva,  near  Saltillo,  at  Patos  and  at  Santa 
Rosa,  where  in  two  engagements  a party  of  Indians  was 
severely  punished  after  killing  several  and  recapturing  much 
booty. 

As  to  Nuevo  Leon,  during  this  year,  when  the  danger  from 
filibusters  had  ceased,  the  commandant  provided  Galeana  with 
arms,  and  allowed  its  citizens  to  carry  them,  visited  the  north- 
ern frontier  of  the  State  at  Parras  and  Vallecillo,  sent  70  regu- 
lars on  an  expedition  to  Huizaches,  and  finally  sent  the  entire 
State  forces,  then  first  placed  under  his  command  by  virtue  of 
a revolution,  into  the  desert  as  far  as  “ Laguna  de  la  Leche,” 
notwithstanding  the  fact  that  there  had  been  no  recent  Indian 
invasion  to  repress. 

The  Seminoles  presented  themselves  this  year  to  the  com- 
mandant general,  soliciting  agricultural  implements  in  order  to 
cultivate  the  lands  which  had  been  assigned  them,  and  in  the 
same  month  the  commander  at  Marin  and  Colonel  Zuazua  re- 
spectively reported  successes  achieved  against  the  hostile 
Indians.  All  the  army  officers  were  indefatigable  in  their 
combinations  and  in  the  distant  expeditions  which  they  under- 
took, at  the  slightest  word  of  the  Indians  having  appeared  even 
in  the  mountain  fastnesses.  The  general  government  mean- 
while did  not  forget  the  interests  of  the  peaceful  Indians,  the 


304 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


Serninolcs,  and  Mascogos,  wifh  wliom  it  had  made  treaties  on 
the  IGth  of  October,  1850,  and  the  26th  of  July,  1852  ; and 
now  ordered  that  these  agreements  be  carried  into  effect.  It 
was  also  ordered  that  special  defensive  armor  be  prepared 
both  for  the  infantry  and  the  cavalry  employed  upon  Indian 
service. 

In  the  course  of  this  same  year  the  commander  at  Marin 
repulsed  an  attack  by  the  Indians  in  his  own  district,  aided  the 
militia  of  Apodaca  and  Mina,  and  located  a flying  section  of 
twenty  dragoons  at  “ Minas  Viejas,”  to  attend  to  the  security 
of  the  adjacent  district.  About  this  time,  the  War  Depart- 
ment established,  at  Doctor  Arroyo,  a fifth  cantonment  for  the 
better  defense  of  the  frontier.  The  Lipans  had  been  admitted 
to  live  in  peace  at  “ Mesa  de  Catujanos,”  in  Coahnila,  but  were 
to  be  watched  by  a detachment  placed  near  them  by  the  com- 
mandant general  of  Nuevo  Leon. 

In  1855,  Captains  Menchaca  and  Ugartechea  received 
especial  instructions  to  go  in  pursuit  of  the  savages,  wherever 
they  might  be  found.  The  former,  a native  of  San  Antonio  de 
Bejar,  who  had  been  in  the  Mexican  service  since  1836,  trav- 
ersed a great  part  of  the  desert,  as  may  be  seen  by  tbe  diary 
of  his  operations,  and  expressed  the  opinion  that  most  of  the 
invasions  are  made  by  Texan  citizens  disguised  as  Indians. 
The  latter,  who  took  another  direction,  followed  the  Indians  to 
the  Bio  Grande.  He  simply  expressed  his  opinion  that  some 
white  men  disguised  as  Indians  committed  frequent  robberies 
of  borses,  and  carried  them  for  sale  to  the  adjoining  republic.  , 

Although  the  frontier  was  engaged,  in  1856,  with  a vast 
political  question,  and  was  maintaining  an  army  in  the  interior 
of  the  republic,  a new  force  was  nevertheless  organized  in 
January  at  the  town  of  Muzquiz,  and  by  order  of  the  com- 
mandant general  immediately  undertook  a campaign.  Forces 
were  also  sent  against  the  remnant  of  the  Lipans,  who  attacked 
some  shepherds  at  San  Diego,  and  escaped  punishment  only  by 
reerossino'  the  Bio  Grande.  A little  before  this  time  a so-called 
massacre  of  some  Lipans  had  taken  place,  an  act  considered  as 
just  and  well  deserved  by  the  military  commander  of  the 
frontier.  The  Tancahue  Indians  were  also  pursued  on  account 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


305 


of  tlieir  having  abandoned  their  reservation  witliout  the  knowl- 
edge of  the  authorities.  Elsewhere,  a body  of  Comanches  was 
attacked,  and  six  captives,  200  animals,  and  much  booty  were 
recovered  from  them,  as  is  circumstantially  related  in  the  diary 
of  operations  kept  by  the  officers  in  command.  There  were  also 
movements  of  troops  near  Lampazos,  Parras,  and  Mondova 
Vieja,  in  pursuit  of  Comanches.  It  was  also  in  this  year,  1856, 
that  an  American  Commission,  professing  to  be  properly  author- 
ized, visited  the  Mexican  frontier  and  conferred  with  the 
authorities  concerning  the  damages  which  the  Lipans  were 
causing  on  both  sides  of  the  river. 

The  Commission  desired  to  present  a comjiend  of  all,  the 
operations  during  the  time  of  the  comandancias  generales, 
in  order  that  it  may  be  seen  what  the  supreme  govern- 
ment of  the  republic  was  doing  through  its  agents,  for  tlie 
security  of  tlie  frontier  and  the  maintenance  of  good  rela- 
tions with  the  adjoining  countiy.  Tlieir  action  was  so  con- 
stant and  eflicacious  that  it  became  superior  to  that  of  the 
United  States,  and  for  five  years  there  was  more  security 
against  Indian  invasions  and  depredations  in  Mexico  than  in 
the  United  States.  The  Commission  has  also  felt  bound  to 
examine  the  conduct,  both  of  the  civil  and  military  authorities 
which  have  represented  Mexico  in  this  great  question  of  Indian 
invasions,  because  it  was  necessary  to  show  that  neither  the 
immense  extent  of  the  evils  nor  the  notoriety  of  the  fact  that 
they  proceeded  from  the  United  States,  a country  bound  by 
treaty  to  prevent  them,  ever  led  to  any  violation  of  the  terri- 
tory of  that  republic. 

In  continuing  the  thread  of  our  narrative  of  Indian  depre- 
dations upon  the  northern  towns  of  Uuevo  Leon,  from  1857 
onward,  it  will  be  seen  that  many  years  and  vast  efforts  were 
necessary  to  obtain  some  respite  from  those  invasions,  which  at 
this  time  began  to  diminish  in  number. 

Only  thirteen  towns  were  attacked,  in  1858,  in  forty  inva- 
■sions;  the  same  towns  having  been  assaulted  four  or  five  times 
by  more  than '700  Comanches.  Thanks  to  the  vigorous  resist- 
ance and  an  active  pursuit  by  1,000  citizens,  only  18  jiersons 
were  killed  and  four  wounded.  Of  the  former,  several  lost 
20 


306 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


their  lives  in  theeiglit  engagements  of  this  year,  wliieli  resulted 
in  recovering  more  than  200  animals  and  two  captives,  besides 
killing  many  Indians.  In  spite  of  all  this  activity,  they  suc- 
ceeded in  carrying  otf  a large  number  of  horses.  In  the  in- 
vasions of  this  year,  mention  should  be  made  of  the  daring 
and  audacity  of  the  Indians  in  approaching  the  suburbs  of 
Monterey,  climbing  on  foot  the  steep  mountains  to  the  South, 
and  reappearing  at  Guadalupe,  two  leagues  away,  and  that 
the  30  Indians  who  performed  this  feat  called  out  in  pursuit 
nearly  1,000  men  who  followed  them  into  the  mountains  with- 
out being  able  to  reach  them.  It  was,  however,  learned  that 
the  greater  portion  of  them  perished  of  hunger  and  thirst 
among  the  rocks  where  they  found  refuge. 

Eight  towns  in  the  north,  and  one  in  the  south,  beyond 
the  Sierra  !Madre,  suffered  in  1859  the  accustomed  scourge, 
eleven  citizens  being  killed,  six  wounded,  and  many  children 
and  horses  carried  off*.  The  number  of  the  Indians  had  de- 
creased to  300,  but  several  parts  of  the  State  were  simultane- 
ously attacked.  On  the  the  20th  of  January,  three  parties  of 
Indians  entered  the  district  of  Lampazos  at  different  points, 
and  on  the  30th,  others  attacked  Galeana,  more  than  100 
leagues  distant.  This  tactics  was  intended  to  attract  all  the 
defensive  forces  to  the  north,  while  the  invaders  of  Galeana 
might  meet  with  no  impediment.  In  view  of  these  operations, 
and  of  the  opinions  of  intelligent  officers,  such  as  Ugartechea 
and  ]\Ieuchaca,  who  had  grown  gray  in  Indian  warfare,  it  may 
be  deemed  certain  that  these  Indians  ivere  aided,  materially  or 
morally,  by  citizens  of  Texas. 

In  all  the  year  1860,  but  one  person  was  killed,  four  wounded, 
and  two  made  captive  by  the  Indians.  Although  they  appeared 
four  times  near  Lampazos,  and  five  times  at  Yillagarcia,  great 
Ggilance  was  displayed  both  here  and  at  seven  other  places 
where  they  showed  themselves,  they  being  repulsed  in  five  en- 
gagements. Their  number  was  about  150,  and  their  booty 
insignificant. 

In  the  thirty-one  invasions  of  the  year  1861,  the  loss  of 
horses  ivas  considerable,  though  not  exactly  specified  in  the 
re}X)rts  of  the  Alcaldes.  Ten  of  the  northern  towns  had  to 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


307' 


deal  M'ith  about  400  Comanclies,  losing  eight  persons,  an  insig- 
nificant number  as  compared  with  previous  years.  Great  dex- 
terity was  displayed  by  the  invaders  in  eluding  pursuit,  and  in 
placing  tlieir  booty  in  safety  in  their  chosen  hiding  places. 

But  one  person  killed  and  one  wounded  are  i-ecorded  for 
the  year  18G2.  Ten  incursions  were  made  against  seven  of  the 
northern  towns,  by  less  than  100  Indians. 

In  1863,  only  100  Indians  appeared,  making  seventeen  in- 
cursions, and  being  pursued  by  more  than  300  citizens,  who 
lost  six  killed  and  four  wounded,  without  being  able  to  recover 
the  few  stolen  horses.  Each  year  since  1861  has  shown  a de- 
crease in  the  numbers  of  the  killed,  of  the  invaders,  and  of  the 
amount  of  booty.  The  year  1864  presents  but  four  persons 
killed  and  two  wounded,  and  a small  number  of  animals  stolen 
from  five  of  the  northern  towns.  Still  less  were  the  losses  in 
1865.  Only  eighty  Indians  were  seen  in  this  year,  who  killed 
two  citizens  and  wounded  several  in  an  engagement,  and  car- 
ried otf  a few  horses  from  four  towns,  which  were  the  only  ones 
molested.  In  1866  not  a single  Indian  returned. 

The  Commission  will  leave  for  another  place  the  many  im- 
portant considerations  suggested  by  this  review  of  the  eighteen 
years  warfare  with  the  Indians  in  the  three  frontier  States  of 
Nuevo  Leon,  Tamaulipas,  and  Coahuila.  At  present  it  will 
confine  itself  to  a fact  which  has  attracted  its  careful  attention. 

From  the  breaking  out  of  the  Confederate  war  in  1861,  it 
began  to  be  noticed  that  the  invasions  began  to  diminish  year 
by  year,  until  they  totally  ceased  in  1866,  when  that  war  had 
also  been  concluded.  The  natural  order  of  events  would  have 
been  that  on  the  withdrawal  of  the  Federal  garilsons  from  the 
Rio  Grande  in  the  former  year,  the  savage  hordes  would  pour 
through  the  gap  thus  left  open  and  devastate  the  north  of 
Mexico.  But  the  fact  was  directlj^  the  converse  of  what  every 
one  expected,  and  it  needs  explanation. 

This  explanation  ma}'  be  found  by  first  taking  cognizance 
of  the  prior  fact  that  the  American  garrisons  on  the  Rio  Grande 
and  the  Colorado,  though  presumably  established  for  the  de- 
fence of  both  Texans  and  Mexicans  from  Indian  invasions,  were 
ineffectual  for  that  object,  as  has  been  sufficiently  seen  in  the 


308 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


long  lists  of  calamities  suffered  by  both  countries,  but  especially 
Mexico.  Yerj"  few  cases  of  recapture  of  hoi'ses  from  the  sav- 
ages occurred  up  to  1861.  During  the  same  period  the  in- 
vasions were  constantly  increasing  in  number  and  in  impor- 
tance, and  they  almost  ceased  with  the  withdrawal  of  the 
Federal  troops — a fact  attested  by  all  the  inhabitants  of  the 
frontier.  Taken  by  itself,  a participation  or  a direct  influence 
of  the  Federal  troops  in.  those  depredations  might  naturally  be 
deduced  from  these  premises. 

This  Commission  is  very  far  from  drawing  such  a conclu- 
sion. It  has  already  shown  that  in  1835  an  immense  trade 
with  the  Comanches  was  established  by  American  speculators, 
and  that  this  was  the  origin  of  the  great  movement  against  the 
Mexican  frontier.  The  testimony  of  American  witnesses,  es- 
pecially that  of  Gregg,  has  so  confirmed  this  fact  that  it  has 
acquired  an  irresistible  force.  The  later  fact  of  the  cessation  of 
the  Indian  invasions  simultaneous! with  the  withrawal  of  the 
Federal  troops,  supplies  another  proof  that  the  invasions  had 
no  other  origin  than  the  traffic  in  question.  On  the  day  when 
the  cause  disappeared,  the  depredations  ceased,  because  the 
motive  no  longer  existed.  The  withdrawal  of  the  Federal 
troops  removed  the  occasion  of  such  a criminal  traffic. 

Two  very  powerful  reasons  co-operated  for  this  change  so 
beneficial  to  Mexico  and  to  humanity.  The  first  was  the  rup- 
ture between  the  North  and  the  South,  whfch  divided  the  great 
Eepublic  into  two  hostile  camps,  and  monopolized  the  activity 
of  all  its  citizens,  both  the  men  of  principle  and  the  speculators, 
in  the  service  of  their  respective  parties — -the  former  devoting 
themselves  exclusively  to  the  triumph  of  their  own  cause,  the 
latter  looking  after  the  result  of  the  speculations  for  which  an 
enormous  field  was  opened.  The  Indian  ^traders,  whether 
Unionists  or  Confederates,  saw  before  them  this  great  oppor- 
tunity, and  hastened  to  utilize  it,  leaving  the  Indians  without 
the  stimulus  which  alone  had  induced  them  to  undertake  such 
dangerous  and  fatiguing  campaigns.  The  other  fact,  which 
contributed  in  a smaller  degree  to  the  change  in  question,  was 
the  mercantile  cui  rent  which  sprang  up  during  the  confederacy 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


309 


between  Texas  and  Kansas,  tlie  latter  State  becoming  a great 
center  of  the  cattle  trade,  whicb  could  no  longer  be  carried  on 
throngb  the  blockaded  ports,  but  became  possible  in  this  direc- 
tion through  the  rapid  extension  of  railroads.  The  Indians  could 
no  longer  be  competitors;  they  did  !iot  comprehend  the  rev- 
olution which  was  taking  place  against  tbeir  interests,  and  they 
thus  became  isolated  from  their  former  customers.  It  was  thus 
that  mercantile  calculations  and  tlie  new  use  of  capital  solved, 
in  a measure,  one  of  the  gravest  questions  which  had  so  long 
defied  the  more  or  less  intelligent  and  energetic  action  of  two 
governments. 

The  few  years  which  remain  to  be  examined  down  to  the 
present  time,  show  a slight  increase  in  the  number  of  incur- 
sions until  1869  ; they  are  reduced  to  two  in  1870,  and  then 
completely  cease.  In  1867,  80  Indians  appeared  in  seven  of 
the  northern  towns,  causing  two  deaths  and  carrying  off  a con- 
siderable number  of  horses.  In  1868,  four  towns  w’ere  robbed 
of  but  few  animals  by  about  200  Indians,  who,  however,  mur- 
dered no  one.  In  1869,  the  incursions  were  25,  the  deaths  nine, 
the  wounded  four,  and  but  one  captive.  The  horses  carried  oft’ 
were  in  considerable  numbers,  and  but  few  were  recovered  in 
three  engagements.  O'ne  town  only,  Lampazos,  was  attacked 
in  1870,  by  two  different  parties  of  Indians,  one  of  which  killed 
30  persons,  and  both  carried  off  many  horses.  They  were 
chased  by  both  regulars  and  militia  until  they  repassed  the  Kio 
Grande  at  different  points. 

From  this  examination  of  the  annals  of  twelve  years,  from 
1857  onward,  it  appears  that  there  were  in  Kuevo  Leon  105 
persons  killed,  wounded,  and  carried  captive.  The  wai’fare 
was  almost  insignificant  during  the  six  years  of  American  war 
and  reconstruction,  and  the  spoils,  though  less  than  in  previous 
years,  was  beyond  all  proportion  to  the  number  of  aggressors. 

As  has  been  seen  and  proved  by  the  tables  formed  by  the 
Commission  from  official  records,  the  losses  in  the  entire  period 
embraced  by  its  researches  have  been  enormous  in  lives,  liberty 
and  property,  as  well  as  in  the  destruction  of  commerce  and 
agriculture.  Nevertheless,  these  official  data  do  not  represent 
the  full  amount  of  the  losses  ; they  are  but  the  proofs  of  their 


310 


REPORT  OF  COilMITTEE. 


existence  which  the  autliorities  of  tlie  towns  were  able  to  pro- 
duce at  the  outset,  before  the  full  particulars  in  each  case  were 
revealed  by  the  result  of  the  pursuit  of  the  invaders,  and  by 
the  recounting  of  the  remaining  stock.  The  object  of  the 
earliest  official  reports  having  been  simply  to  give  notice  of 
the  incursions,  so  as  to  enable  the  government  to  take  speedy 
measures  for  their  I’epression,  it  was  a secondary  consideration 
to  give  the  losses,  whidh  were  barely  mentioned,  as  a proof  of 
the  appearance  of  the  savages. 

In  such  moments,  the  citizens  of  all  the  towjis  thought  only 
of  meeting  the  danger,  and  in  view  of  the  trouble  and  delay 
incident  to  making  out  full  proofs,  they  did  not  take  care  to 
place  them  in  the  archives.  Notwithstanding  this,  the  losses 
have  been  so  great  that  in  going  over  the  records  the  chief  con- 
tents are  found  to  be  the  daily  reports  sent  to  the  authorities 
of  the  various  phases  of  Indian  robberies  and  murders. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  frontier  being  obliged,  in  the  way  of 
business,  to  make  long  journ.eys  to  Chihuahua,  Sonora,  Du- 
rango, and  Texas,  it  oftened  happened  that  they  were  attacked 
by  large  parties  of  Indians,  lost  their  property,  and  left  their 
companions  buried  in  the  deserts,  far  away  from  their  homes. 
None  of  these  numerous  disasters  are  recorded  in  the  archives, 
but  the  testimony  of  witnesses  and  of  captives  has  thrown  light 
on  this  other  source  of  enormous  losses  of  life  and  property. 
Such  evidence  from  ocular  witnesses  is  very  interesting  in 
details,  reliable  in  point  of  facts,  and  important  for  the  under- 
standing of  many  official  reports,  whose  authors  have  amplified 
and  illustrated  them  by  personally  appearing  before  the  Com- 
mission. 

In  the  towns  of  Nuevo  Leon  visited  by  the  Commission, 
forty-two  witnesses  have  been  examined,  ten  of  whom  have 
been  captives.  From  their  statements  have  been  learned  the 
dates  of  many  incursions,  the  tribes  which  made  them,  the 
amount  of  damages,  the  persons  who  chiefly  suffered  them,  and 
the  steps  taken  by  the  towns  for  the  recovery  of  tlieir  property. 
These  witnesses  have  been  persons  of  tlie  best  standing  in  their 
respective  places  of  residence.  Many  of  them  have  been  per- 
sons of  capital,  Avho  have  held  office,  especially  in  the  organiza- 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


311 


tion  of  the  National  Guards  for  Indian  campaigns,  and  tliey 
have  thus  been  able,  in  many  cases,  to  till  up  the  blanks  as  to 
losses  and  sufferers,  so  frequent  in  the  public  records. 

These  witnesses  being  from  seventeen  different  towns,  they 
have  shown,  according  to  their  geograj)hical  distribution,  the 
gradual  advance  of  the  invasions  southward.  They  have 
proved  that  the  depredations  did  not  begin  until  after  183G  to 
pass  through  the  line  of  the  towns  which,  like  Lampazos  and 
Salinos,  are  close  to  the  military  colonies.  ISTo  one  of  these 
witnesses  has  failed  to  give  a particular  account  of  the  atroci- 
ties perpetrated  by  the  Indians,  as  personally  seen,  or  learned 
on  good  authority.  The  truth  of  the  official  reports  has  thus 
been  ascertained  and  corroborated  ; and  while  the  interested 
parties  have  brought  witnesses  to  prove  their  losses,  the  new 
testimony  has  generally  been  confirmed  by  the  less  specific 
evidence  of  the  archives. 

It  has  been  a remarkable  fact  noticed  in  this  investigation, 
that  the  greater  part  of  the  Indian  outi*ages  which  occurred  in 
any  one  State  have  found  proof  in  towns  of  other  States. 
Thus,  for  example,  reports  made  in  1852  by  an  officer  at 
Lampazos,  who  participated  in  the  engagement  between  the 
citizens  of  Guerrero  and  the  Indians  at  ‘‘  La  Oracion,”  has 
placed  beyond  a doubt  the  truth  of  the  statements  made  by 
the  citizen  Benavides  Hinojosa,  and  the  captive  Sabas  Rodri- 
guez. 

The  incursion  of  Indians  upon  Laredo,  Texas,  in  1869,  as 
described  by  citizens  of  Huevo  Laredo,  who  united  with  the 
Texans  in  pursuing  the  marauders  as  far  as  the  boundary  of 
Kuevo  Leon,  has  been  fully  corroborated  in  all  particulars  by 
the  statements  of  General  Naranjo,  of  the  citizen  Manuel 
Rodriguez,  and  the  official  reports.  The  same  conformity 
exists  between  multitudes  of  the  expedientes  drawn  up  in 
different  States,  and  some  of  them  have  been  confirmed  by 
evidence  obtained  from  Texas. 

Citizens  of  San  Francisco  (Nuevm  Leon)  testified  before  the 
Commission  when  it  began  its  labors  at  Salinas  Victoria,  that 
in  1860  they  drove  their  stock  to  Texas  for  sale,  because  they 
had  become  convinced  that  they  could  not  profitably  carry  on 


312 


EEFORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


Stock  raising  in  Mexico,  on  account  of  insecnritj'  and  the 
impossibility  of  hiring  lierdsmen  at  any  price ; that  liaving 
penetrated  into  the  interior  of  Texas  on  account  of  the  war 
then  breaking  out,  they  found  they  could  not  dispose  of  their 
stock,  and  therefore  resolved  to  stay  there  ; that  they  sutfered 
great  losses  from  an  invasion  by  Comanches,  who  had  taken 
several  captives  on  both  sides  of  the  river  Kueces,  and  at  this 
time  carried  off  a boy  who  was  the  son  of  one  of  the  Mexican 
herdsmen. 

At  the  same  time.  General  Qniroga  made  a similar  state- 
ment about  Indians  whom  he  had  fought  when  living  on  a 
ranch  in  Texas,  near  Laredo,  mentioning  an  occasion  when 
a party  of  eighty  Indians  attacked  some  wagons  with  families 
traveling  from  Laredo  to  San  Antonio,  whom  he  with  five  of 
his  herdsmen  rescued  by  a stratagem,  but  were  unable  to 
deliver  a captive  woman  previously  taken  by  them. 

These  witnesses  could  not  know,  wlieu  they  made  their 
statements,  that  the  said  captives  would  soon  after  confirm 
what  they  said.  Two  months  later,  when  the  Commission 
was  approaching  the  Rio  Grande,  all  those  captives  arrived 
from  Fort  Sill,  where  they  had  been  ransomed  from  the 
Comanches  and  Iviowas,  who  had  committed  the  depredations 
referred  to  on  the  Rio  Xneces,  whence  they  had  been  carried 
ca])tive.  This  incident,  properly  belonging  to  the  section 
relating  to  Texas,  is  here  narrated  to  show  the  cliaracter  of  the 
witnesses  examined  by  the  Commission,  and  illustrate  by  this 
instance  tlie  truthfulness  of  others  not  less  competent  and  in- 
telligent, and  who  deserve  equal  credit. 

It  has  been  stated  that  ten  captives  have  given  testimony. 
These  are  to  be  divided  into  three  classes;  some  were  taken 
before  Mexico  became  independent,  others  in  the  period  about 
1848,  and  still  others  in  recent  times.  On  each  of  these 
periods  they  furnish  interesting  information,  which  must  be 
considered  in  order  to  understand  mau}’  points  which  would 
■otherwise  have  remained  obscure. 

It  has  been  thought  important  to  know  the  routes  followed 
by  the  Comanches,  I.ipans  and  Mescaleros  in  Alexico  and  the 
United  States,  as  well  as  their  relations  to  each  other;  and  on 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


313 


tins  subject  only  the  captives  could,  afford  light.  Yentura 
Garza  states,  that  he  was  captured  in  1858,  at  Bustamante,  by 
the  Mescaleros,  who  in  this  incursion  killed  20  men  and  carried 
off  150  mules.  Their  retreat  was  made  crossing  the  river  near 
Laredo  into  Texas,  and  following  up  tlie  Bio  Grande  to  Paso 
del  Borte.  They  again  crossed  the  river  near  that  town,  and 
at  Sierra  Bica,  in  the  State  of  Chihuahua,  met  wdth  the  rest  of 
their  band,  composed  of  Mescaleros,  Lipans  and  Gileiios,  then 
at  war  on  botli  sides  the  Bio  Grande.  Their  system  was  to 
depredate  only  in  the  United  States  when  they  lived  in 
Mexico,  and  vice  versa,  which  did  not  prevent  them  from 
marauding  in  either  republic  at  a sufficiently  remote  distance 
from  their  headquarters.  By  this  deceit  they  kept  their  haunts 
unknown  and  kept  clear  of  pursuit  on  both  sides.  They  would 
suddenly  go  to  ISTew  Mexico,  says  the  captive,  treat  for  peace, 
open  trade,  exchanging  their  Mexican  booty  for  arms,  and 
afterward,  probably  in  1861,  broke  their  engagements,  com- 
mitting horrible  atrocities  and  spoliations.  This  witness  was 
ransomed  in  1865  at  Paso  del  ISTorte. 

By  this  narrative,  it  is  plainly  to  be  seen  that  the  treachery 
of  the  Indians  has  either  not  been  understood,  or  it  has  been 
tolerated  in  order  to  gain  temporary  advantages  which,  in  the 
long  run,  cost  dear. 

The  Comanches  carried  off  another  captive  from  Yillaldama 
in  1851.  His  testimony  is  useful  only  for  the  enumeration  of 
the  murders  and  robberies  which  they  committed  during  the 
few  days  he  was  with  them,  for  the  proof  of  the  tribe  to  which 
they  belonged,  and  for  the  confirmation  of  the  fact  that  they 
used  to  encamp  on  the  tops  of  mountains  to  go  down  and  rob 
in  the  valleys.  On  comparing  the  statement  of  this  captive 
with  documents  from  the  archives  of  the  State  Government,  it 
is  found  that,  on  the  31st  of  March  of  that  year,  the  alcalde 
reported  the  murder  of  two  persons  and  the  captivity  of  two 
others,  and  a drove  of  horses.  This  illustrates  the  light  thrown 
upon  official  reports  by  testimony  such  as  this. 

Another  captive  states  that  Comanches  carried  him  off  from 
Potrero,  after  killing  his  companion  Dominguez ; that  a little 
way  off  they  killed  another  man,  and  two  more  before  reach- 
ing Bajan,  from  which  place  they  came.  The  Indians  were 


314 


EEPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


only  four  in  number,  and  in  a few  clays  they  bad  collected  a 
considerable  boot}',  with  which  they  got  away  to  the  ISTorth, 
passing  near  Monclova.  This  witness  confirms  other  state- 
ments as  to  the  passes  by  which  the  savages  crossed  the  Rio 
Grande. 

In  a foray  of  the  Comanchcs  upon  Sabinas,  in  1848,  they 
carried  off  a boy  who  remained  among  them  three  years,  and 
was  then  sold  to  tlie  Lipans.  From  the  latter  he  was  ransomed 
by  the  Americans,  along  with  other  Mexican  captives,  at  the 
trading  place  for  the  sale  of  their  horses  in  Texas.  Tlie  Co- 
nianches  and  Lipans  were  tlien  at  peace  with  each  other,  com- 
mitted their  depredations  together,  and  traded  in  the  United 
States  their  booty.  Official  documents  prove  that  at  this  time 
the  Lipans  were  waging  an  atrocious  warfare  in  Mexico,  as 
proved  by  reports  found  in  the  army  headquarters  at  Monterey. 
The  captives  above  mentioned  were  from  Durango,  Coahuila 
and  Ruevo  Leon,  which  fact  shows  the  extent  of  territory  over 
which  they  marauded. 

Cornelio  Sanchez  was  taken  captive  in  1839.  He  was 
taken  across  the  Rio  Grande  above  San  Fernando ; was  at  San 
Saba,  wliere  there  were  then  some  Comanche  huts ; visited  the 
Lipans  who  were  on  good  terms  with  them,  and  during 
eight  years  that  he  lived  among  the  Indians  saw  the  dealings 
between  the  Comanches  and  other  tribes,  the  latter  of  whom 
traded  with  tlie  Americans.  Just  at  the  time  when  this 
captive  escaped  from  Santa  Rosa,  the  last-mentioned  wit- 
ness was  captured  at  Sabinas.  Their  evidence  agrees  in 
depicting  a good  understanding  between  Comanches  and 
Lipans,  and  also  as  to  the  location  of  their  several  villages  or 
encampments. 

The  frontier  town  of  Lampazos — the  same  where  a colonial 
company  was  founded  at  the  close  of  the  last  century — expe- 
rienced, in  1820,  an  incursion  of  more  than  200  Comanches, 
who  captured  nearly  fifty  children,  two  of  whom  escaped,  some 
years  later,  from  their  detention  near  the  Rio  Colorado  ; one  of 
them  belonged  to  a prominent  family  at  Lampazos,  and  still 
holds  a high  social  position  there.  lie  says  that  during  the 
six  years  of  his  captivity  he  was  constantly  a witness  of  traffic 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


315 


existing  between  these  Indians  and  the  Americans,  as  well  as 
the  Xew  Mexicans  ; that  the  Lipans  lived  in  harmony  with  the 
Comanches  ; that  although  the}’’  sometimes  quarreled  on  mat- 
ters relating  to  elk  limiting,  this  only  resulted  in  separation, 
and  never  in  hostilities,  which  they  only  had  witii  the 
“ Washas,”  a tribe  living  farther  north;  that  he  became  ac- 
quainted with  the  Kiowas,  Yamparicas  and  Sarigtecas,  who 
belong  to  the  same  group  as  the  Comanches,  and  who  also,  to- 
gether or  apart,  used  to  make  forays  upon  Mexico;  tliat  he 
saw  the  Tnj-ka-nayes,  agricultural  Indians  who  lived  as  perma- 
nent settlers  at  points  on  the  same  river,  and  that  he  became 
acquainted  with  the  Lipans,  Mescaleros  and  Gileiios,  who 
were  known  by  the  common  name  of  Apaches.  He  mentions 
the  Tahnacanos,  and  says  that  all  these  tribes  lived  and  dressed 
nearly  alike,  and  that  the  chief  difference  observed  between 
the  two  great  families  of  Comanches  and  Apaches  was  in  the 
arrows — those  of  the  former  being  shorter  and  better  made; 
that  the  Comanches  may  also  be  known  from  the  Apaches  by 
their  wearing  the  hair  in  three  braids,  while  the  latter  form 
only  one  tress,  or  cut  it  even  with  the  shoulder.  He  was  aided 
to  escape  to  Hew  Mexico  by  a native  of  Santa  Fe;  returned 
home  in  182G,  enlisted  as  a soldier  in  the  colonial  companies  in 
1828,  and  served  in  the  detachments  stationed  at  “ Las  Moras,” 
under  the  orders  of  Captain  Santiago  Lopez.  lie  states  that 
the  frontier  enjoyed  peace  from  1829  to  1836,  through  the 
active  pursuit  of  the  Indians  every  time  that  they  approached 
the  line  of  garrisons  ; that  he  has  often  fought  against  the 
Indians,  who  have  almost  always  been  Comanches,  and  that  he 
estimates  the  losses  caused  by  them  to  have  been  very  great. 

On  a comparison  of  the  statements  of  this  captive  and  of 
another  who  was  his  companion,  with  the  descriptions  given  by 
Mr.  Grregg  in  his  work  so  often  quoted,  there  is  found  to  be  an 
absolute  agreement  in  the  two  accounts  of  manners  and  cus- 
toms, and  a certain  knowledge  is  obtained  of  the  places  where 
they  lived,  of  the  beginning  and  progress  of  their  incursions, 
and  of  their  traffic,  since  we  learn  from  the  work  in  question 
that  certain  American  adventurers  penetrated  for  the  first  time 
into  those  immense  prairies  in  the  year  1821. 


316 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


However  this  may  be,  these  captives  clearly  prove  that  the 
marauders  upon  the  right  bank  of  the  Kio  Grande  have  always 
been  Comanches  and  Lipans ; that  previous  to  18i8,  these  two 
tribes  lived  only  to  the  Horth  of  tlfat  river ; that  they  have 
maintained  a traffic  in  Mexican  booty,  cliiefly  with  Americans, 
but  sometimes  with  Indians  of  the  reservations,  obtaining  by 
barter  ai  ms  and  ammunition,  and  that  this  trade  has  been  since 
1836  the  most  effective  stimulus  for  their  w'ork  of  pillage  and 
devastation. 

The  towns  of  Huevo  Leon  have  lost  much  more  than  1,000 
souls  ill  killed,  wounded  and  captives,  since  the  official  docu- 
ments alone  mention  935.  If  the  damage  to  life,  health  and 
liberty,  be  estimated  at  the  inadequate  sum  of  $10,000  for  each 
individual,  it  would  therefore  amount  to  ten  millions  of  dollars. 
ISTevertheless  the  people  of  Isuevo  Leon  do  not  claim  so  great 
a sum,  and  the  moderation  and  equity  displayed  by  the  suf- 
ferers needs  no  clearer  proof. 

During  twenty-two  years  of  continual  assaults,  the  towns  of 
N uevo  Leon  have  been  devastated  by  the  savages  eighty-nine 
times,  as  may  be  seen  by  the  tables  accompanying  this  report. 
In  each  of  these  incursions  the  damages  may  be  calculated  at 
$5,000,  and  in  the  majority  of  the  cases  the  documents  of  the 
archives  show  that  they  were  greater.  Upon  this  insufficient 
basis,  the  loss  would  amount  to  $1, 04:5, 000.*  The  losses  stated 
in  the  town  records  as  examined  by  the  Commission,  are  evi- 
dently but  a small  part  of  the  real  loss.  Such  as  they  are,  the 
amounts  stated  have  been  proved  by  the  sufferers  in  legal 
form,  and  with  unimpeachable  evidence.  Indeed,  the  reffec- 
tions  lately  made  in  this  report  would  suffice  to  establish  their 
truth,  even  if  they  were  only  affidavits  of  the  interested  parties. 

In  the  section  devoted  to  the  State  of  Tamaulipas,  sufficient 
reasons  have  been  given  for  the  amount  of  interest  charged  on 
the  sums  representing  losses,  and  it  is  unnecessary  here  to  insist 
upon  the  extreme  justice  and  equity  of  that  calculation. 

In  closing  this  examination  into  losses,  anotlier  important 
element  should  not  be  overlooked,  which  should  naturally  in- 


* Later  documents  increase  this  sum. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


317 


crease  the  amount,  but  for  which  no  estimate  has  been  made. 
It  is  well  known  that  when  a town  was  invaded,  tlie  citizens 
took  up  arms  and  started  at  once,  at  their  own  expense,  in  pur- 
suit. it  is  evident  that  in  many  cases  this  abandonment  of 
their  ordinary  avocations  must  have  occasioned  irreparable 
losses,  but  none  of  them  have  ever  calculated  even  the  value  ot 
their  time  while  thus  employed. 

To  understand  the  consequences  of  this  omission,  and  to 
appreciate  the  moderation  displayed  in  this  matter,  it  will  be 
enough  to  state  that  for  22  years  the  forays  average  three  per 
month,  and  in  their  repression  more  than  12,000  citizens  have 
been  engaged,  not  counting  the  forces  employed  by  the  Su- 
preme Government.  The  services  of  these  citizens  would 
amount  to  nearly  a million  and  a half,  calculating  only  for  the 
third  part  of  each  year.  These  services  have  been  compensated 
in  part  bv  small  amounts  of  money,  e.xemption  from  taxes,  and 
distribution  of  the  booty  recaptured.  The  State  ot  Huevo 
Leon  has  suffered  a real  and  positive  loss  of  more  than  three 
millions  of  dollars,  not  a cent  of  which  has  been  entered  in  the 
Commission’s  register  of  damages. 

It  was  necessary  to  make  these  explanations,  for  only  in 
this  way  can  a complete  idea  be  formed  of  the  situation  ot  the 
frontier  towns,  whose  fate  has  been  tor  more  than  a century  to 
struggle  with  savages,  especially  during  the  last  fifty  years, 
since  our  savages  first  came  into  contact  with  those  ot  the 
United  States.  Could  Mexico  ever  have  foreseen  this  result, 
when  she  ought  rather  to  have  expected  that  the  influence  ot 
the  sister  and  friendly  republic  upon  the  savage  would  be  a 
w'ell-spring  of  blessings  for  both  countries  ? 

The  trade  which  was  begun  in  1821,  w'hich  was  carried  on 
with  greater  activity  ten  years  later,  originated  mutual  neces- 
sities in  that  quarter,  and  should  have  brought  about  an  intimate 
connection  between  buyer  and  seller,  tor  such  is  the  nature  of 
commerce.  Yet  it  was  uot  the  United  States,  not  the  republic 
which  carried  it  on,  but  only  a small  number  of  its  citizens  5 
and  in  this  case  the  observation  of  a profound  writer  is  verified, 
that  the  spirit  of  trade  separates  private  individuals,  and  pro- 
duces a different  result  from  that  which  ensues  from  inter- 


318 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


national  commerce.  The  relations  of  individuals  in  the  United 
States  with  others  of  Mexico  liave  proved  tlie  trutli  of  this  re- 
mark, for  tliose  relations  were  followed  by  a war  of  extermina- 
tion, because  they  w'ere  not  based  upon  the  general  interests  of 
the  two  countries.  The  removal  of  Indian  tribes  of  tlie  United 
States  to  tlie  soutliwest  (contrary  to  the  desires  of  a govern- 
ment which  regarded  them  with  favor,  but  according  to  Ue 
Toequeville  was  impotent  to  protect  tliern),  rendered  the  con- 
dition of  affairs  worse,-  and  prognosticated  evil  results  for 
Mexico. 


INDIAN  DEPKEDATIONS  IN  COAHUILA. 

Coahuila  was  originally  united  with  Texas,  forming  a single 
province,  under  the  name  of  “New  Philippines,”  the  ])rincipal 
colonists  having  come  from  those  islands.  Its  immense  terri- 
tory,hounded  on  the  east  by  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  Louisiana, 
and  on  the  west  by  Durango  or  Nueva  Viscaya,  stretched  to 
the  north  beyond  lat.  3-7°.  Its  features  were  mountainous  to 
the  south,  while  immense  sea-like  prairies  in  the  north  afforded 
sustenance  to  vast  numbers  of  cattle  and  horses,  wliich  multi- 
plied from  the  animals  abandoned  there  by  their  owners  in 
consequence  of  Indian  invasions. 

When  the  Spaniards  were  extendiTig  their  discoveries  north- 
wnirds,  their  most  advanced  posts  in  this  direction  were  Saltillo 
and  Chihuahua.  These  conquests  were  suspended  in  1670,  on 
account  of  the  immense  numbers  of  Indians,  some  of  them 
original  inhabitants  of  this  region,  others  driven  hither  by  the 
progress  of  the  conquest  in  other  parts. 

As  there  were  no  insuperable  obstacles  for  the  iron-framed 
men  of  that  age,  and  their  spirit  of  enterprise  carried  every- 
thing before  it,  a century  did  not  pass  before  these  Indians 
were  subdued  and  forced  to  live  in  villages,  while  the  refractory 
had  to  retire  northwards  to  a great  distance  from  the  settle- 
ments. 

Most  of  the  existing  villages  in  Coahuila  were  thus  estab- 
lished. The  wise  policy  of  the  conquerors  overcame  the  resist- 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


319 


ance  of  the  natives,  and  the  indigenous  element  became  the 
basis  of  their  power  in  all  the  provinces  which  formed  New 
Spain.  The  butcheries  and  other  cruelties  of  which  the  Span- 
iards have  been  accused  have  thus  had  their  compensation. 

In  16S8  Candela  was  already  settled,  and  one  of  the  mis- 
sionaries located  there  was  informed  by  Indians  from  beyond 
the  Eio  Grande  that  settlements  were  being  made  on  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico  by  white  men  who  were  not  Spaniards.  This  news 
was  sent  to  Mexico,  and  resulted,  in  the  exploration  and  con- 
quest of  Texas,  a very  easy  task,  according  to  the  chroniclers, 
on  account  of  the  mild  character  of  the  Indian  natives.  San 
Antonio  de  Bejar  was  the  capital  of  the  province.  Up  to  the 
year  1719  there  were  more  or  less  disturbances  in  dealing  with 
the  resident  Indians  and  in  keeping  off  hostile  tribes.  At  that 
date  the  Marquis  of  Aguayo,  Dun  Jose  de  Yaldivieso,  carried 
tliere  troops  and  more  missionaries,  and  order  was  restored. 
New  colonists  from  the  Canary  Islands  added  to  the  security 
of  those  settlements,  and  Spain  advanced  her  boundaries  to  the 
river  Empalizada,  afterwards  called  Bed  Biver,  which  became 
the  boundary  with  Louisiana.  Military  colonies  and  outposts 
were  placed  along  the  immense  line  of  defense,  and  a general 
tranquility  proved  that  the  Marquis  of  Aguayo  had  accom- 
plished his  object. 

The  characteristics  of  the  ensuing  wars  of  conquest  have 
been  given  in  the  sections  on  Nuevo  Leon  and  Tamaulipas, 
and  there  is  no  occasion  to  add  anything  here.  The  position 
of  the  province  called  Coahuila-and-Texas,  being  the  farthest 
advanced,  engaged  it  more  deeply  than  its  neighbors  in  such 
struggles,  in  which  it  was  always  triumj)hant,  because  security 
was  fully  established  on  the  riglit  bank  of  the  Bio  Grande. 

The  year  1S36  came  and  this  situation  was  completely 
changed.  The  savages  on  both  sides  of  the  Bio  Grande  ravaged 
all  the  plains,  enjoying  impunity  through  their  numbers.  The 
accumulated  riches  in  cattle  was  too  great  to  be  carried  off  in 
a single  incursion,  and  there  was  so  much  in  the  districts  near- 
est to  the  military  ])osts,  that  they  more  than  sufficed  for  the 
earliest  incursions,  which  did  not  therefore  extend  beyond 
Monclova,  Lampazos,  and  Guerrero  until  the  year  1810.  In 


320 


RErOPwT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


this  jeav  tlie  maraiirling  hordes  fell  uiDon  the  three  frontier 
States  at  once.  One  column  penetrated  by  Santa  Rosa,  talcing 
the  high  road,  which  it  lined  with  corpses,  encamped  near  San 
Buenaventura,  and  again  in  a stronghold  near  Saltillo,  defeat- 
ing the  militia  of  both  towns,  and  continued  their  progress  into 
the  State  of  San  Luis  Potosi,  robbing  and  murdering  at  every 
• step.  They  passed  through  Agua  Nueva,  Ventura,  San  Salva- 
dor, Salado,  and  many  other  places,  as  far  as  Morterillos,  fifteen 
leagues  from  the  citj'  of  Saij  Luis,  all  which  towns  suffered 
enormous  losses,  and  some  of  their  families  still  mourn  their 
members  carried  into  captivity. 

At  the  same  time  another  horde  penetrated  through  the 
center  of  the  State,  encamped  near  Bustamante,  in  ISTuevo 
Leon,  killing  or  wounding  more  tlian  100  persons,  passed  on  to 
tlie  important  and  wealthy  town  of  Salinas  Victoria,  defeated 
the  regular  troops  and  militia  combined,  and,  carrying  off  an 
immense  booty,  effected  on  their  retreat  a junction  with  the 
dther  column  which  was  carrying  away  the  rich  plunder  of  San 
Luis.  A third  column  at  the  same  time  visited  Ciudad  Guer- 
rero, in  Tamaulipas,  causing  horrible  destruction.  This  was 
the  first  time  that  these  barbarians  presented  the  oi’der  and 
aspect  of  an  army. 

The  towns  above  mentioned  having  been  surprised  when 
they  had  no  reason  to  expect  such  a daring  attack,  the  great 
losses  suffered  were  inevitable.  For  the  chastisement  of  such 
audacity,  hurried  orders  were  sent  to  the  detached  parties  of 
the  colonial  companies  to  assemble  and  cut  off  the  retreat  of 
the  savages.  These  veterans,  well  acquainted  with  tlie  country 
and  with  the  habits  of  Indian  warfare,  correctly  calculated 
from  the  data  given  them,  the  line  of  march  and  the  move- 
ments of  the  Indians,  whom  they  surprised  in  turn  at  El  Pozo, 
eight  leagues  west  of  San  Fernando  de  Aguaverde.  They  com- 
pletely routed  the  savages,  recovering  all  the  horses  and  free- 
ing the  captives,  except  a few  who  fled  along  with  the  Indians, 
through  fear  of  their  intending  liberators,  of  whom  they  had 
beard  unfavorable  reports.  The  armed  citizens  of  the  entire 
frontier  co-operated  in  this  notable  feat  of  arms.  The  third 
section  of  invaders  was  meanwhile  pursued  by  the  assembled 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


321 


citizens  of  Guerrero,  Mier,  and  Cainargo,  and  was  routed  with 
great  loss. 

As  has  been  mentioned  elsewhere,  the  order  of  march,  the 
formation  of  the  encampments,  and  the  tactics  in  battle  ob- 
served by  the  Indians  in  this  colossal  campaign  were  entirely 
novel,  and  far  too  scientific  in  their  strategy  to  make  it  cred- 
ible that  Oomanches,  Lipans,  and  Mescaleros  were  the  devisers 
of  such  combinations.  From  that  time  it  was  generally  be- 
lieved that  some  Texan-Americans,  hostile  to  Mexico,  were 
mixed  up  with  them,  their  object  being  to  keep  off  the  war 
with  which  tli^t  insurgent  State  was  then  threatened.  Even  if 
this  were  not  flie  case,  another  cause  for  this  Indian  campaign 
may  be  found  in  the  fact  that  on  the  American  frontier  these 
savages  were  stimulated  by  army  officers,  and  were  brought 
into  contact  with  Osages,  Haws,  Delawares,  Shawnees,  and 
other  Indians  of  the  reservations,  with  whom  they  traded,  and 
who  perhaps  accompanied  them  in  their  incursions.  It  was 
beyond  doubt  that  American  citizens  from  that  region,  and 
officers  at  the  forts  on  the  Arkansas  river,  were  the  directors  of 
this  incursion. 

The  corruption  of  these  officers,  and  of  the  speculators  who 
went  from  village  to  village  on  the  reservations,  looking  out 
occasions  to  cheat  the  Indians,  had  an  important  bearing  upon 
the  incursions  on  our  frontier.  The  Indians  experienced  a 
sudden  change,  which  does  not  admit  of  any  other  explanation 
than  the  removal  of  the  civilized  American  tribes  to  the  south- 
west and  the  employment  of  immoral  agents  who  betrayed 
their  trust  and  brought  about  the  ruin  of  a great  part  of  Mexi- 
co. It  is  to  be  noted  that  such  proceedings  were  made  known 
to  the  American  Government,  but  no  remedy  was  applied. 

From  this  negligence  in  superintending  the  Indians  of  the 
reservations,  and  from  the  corruption  of  the  agents  employed 
in  dealing  with  Ihem,  sprung  the  great  organized  invasions  of 
Mexico  by  Indian  tribes.  There  is  no  other  rational  explana- 
tion, nor  can  any  be  found,  especially  if  attention  be  given  to 
the  gradual  development  of  their  mode  of  warfare. 

At  the  outset,  only  the  outposts  were  attacked.  After  the 
war  had  become  an  object  of  speculation,  from  1836  onward. 


21 


322 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


the  first  elements  of  an  organization  became  perceptible,  the 
Indians  having  now  a well-defined  object,  i.  e.,  to  get  as  much 
booty  as  possible.  They  had  formerly  destroyed  great  num- 
bers of  animals,  carrying  oft’  but  few  ; they  now  took  pains  to 
collect  and  carry  off  as  many  as  possible.  On  perceiving  that 
the  system  of  invading  in  large  bodies  did  not  work  well,  they 
abandoned  it,  and  fixed  their  encampments  near  San  Saba  and 
on  the  river  Pecos,  making  those  places  their  headquarters  for 
their  expeditions ; this  change  was  the  result  of  the  severe 
chastisement  they  had  received.  Fi’om  about  1848,  they  be- 
gan to  send  ont  guerrilla  parties  separately  from  their  encamp- 
ments in  Texas.  • 

The  ravages  suffered  by  Coahuila,  which  presents  an  im- 
mense frontier  extending  for  100  leagues  along  the  Rio  Grande, 
have  been  innumerable,  for  the  invaders  could  cross  at  any 
point.  Many  incursions  have  come  from  the  Xorth,  crossing 
the  river  above  or  below  the  ancient  Presidio  deSan  Carlos,” 
and  passing  through  the  “ Bolson  de  Mapimi,”  to  attack  the 
southern  settlements  of  Cuatro  Cienegas,  Parras,  Yiesca  and 
Laguna. 

Depopulation,  poverty  and  ruin  have  been  the  natural  con- 
sequences of  so  many  irruptions,  and  this  is  the  present  con- 
dition of  a State  which  is  one  of  the  most  important  of  the 
republic  in  extent,  fertilit}"  of  soil  and  salubrity  of  climate. 
It  was  once  very  wealthy  in  cattle,  but  its  flocks  and  herds  have 
disappeared  on  account  of  this  warfare.  During  many  years 
the  sons  of  Coahuila  have  fought  the  Indians  merely  to»defcnd 
their  own  existence,  since  their  cattle  no  longer  afforded  a 
temptation  to  the  enemy,  who  nevertheless  had  to  cross  the 
State  on  his  route  to  tlie  more  wealthy  estates  of  San  Luis 
and  the  south  of  Xuevo  Leon.  The  waytarers  and  the  country 
residents  were  exposed  to  destruction  on  these  excursions  of 
wide  range,  and  it  was  necessary  to  live  alwaj^s  with  arms  in 
the  hand,  although  there  was  no  more  property  to  secure  or 
defend. 

The  narrative  of  the  invasions  experienced  in  Coahuila  will 
confirm  the  above  statement,  and  will  excite  wonder,  for  it 
will  seem  impossible  that  towns  which  have  experienced  such 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


323 


great  and  long-continued  snlferings  conld  have  been  kept  to- 
gether. 

The  Mexican  territory  had  not  been  fully  evacuated  after 
the  peace,  of  which  the  principal  condition  had  been  the  re- 
pression of  the  savage  tribes  and  indemnification  for  their 
depredations  wlien  not  checked,  ere  the  towns  of  Coahuila 
were  attacked.  During  the  months  of  August,  September  and 
October,  1848,  three  bands  of  Indians  ravaged  several  towns, 
and  led  to  an  expenditure  of  more  than  $3,000  from  the  public 
coffers  for  repelling  them.  The  State  government,  foreseeing 
an  irruption  of  Coraauches  and  other  Northern  tribes  as  the 
consequence  of  the  war  which  the  United  States  has  agreed  to 
make  upon  them,  employed  all  its  funds  in  equipping  troops 
for  the  contingency.  The  proofs  found  in  the  archives  of  that 
government  show  that  during  the  year  1849,  over  $24,000  w'as 
spent  for  that  purpose. 

The  Indians,  meanwhile,  continued  their  usual  incursions, 
which  numbered  this  year  eleven,  the  invaders  being  estimated 
at  800.  Having  perceived  that  they  could  no  longer  be  pur- 
sued across  the' river,  they  established  their  villages  nearer  to 
its  left  bank,  as  headquarters  for  perpetrating  their  devas- 
tations with  impunity.  Thanks  to  the  activity  of  the  State 
forces  and  the  colonies,  their  luurders  were,  however,  less 
numerous  than  on  some  former  occasions.  The  loss  amounted 
to  22  persons  killed,  wounded  and  taken  captive,  and  several 
hundred  horses  stolen. 

In  1850,  the  Comanches,  Mescaleros  and  Lipans,  sometimes 
in  union,  and  sometimes  separately,  marauded  over  the  whole 
vast  area  of  Coahuila,  ravaging  the  greater  part  of  the  ranchos 
^id  haciendas^  and  even  attacking  the  town  of  Santa  Rosa, 
which  only  escaped  being  occupied  by  them  through  the  timely 
warning  given  by  a recently  escaped  captive.  More  than  600 
savages  were  engaged  in  skirmishes  with  the  militia  of  Santa 
Rosa,  Morelos  and  Guen-ero,  at  the  same  time  that  others  were 
marauding  at  Palomas,  a hundred  leagues  to  the  south,  and  at 
Yiesca,  a hundred  leagues  to  the  west. 

In  the  36  places  which  they  attacked  this  year,  they  killed 
28  persons,  wounded  14,  and  captured  the  same  number.  Five 


32:1: 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


battles  resulted  iii  liberating  half  the  captives  and  a part  of  the 
horses  stolen.  About  1,000  men  wei’e  employed  in  the  cam- 
paign, at  an  expense  on  the  part  of  the  government  of  Coa- 
huila  of  $3,821. 

The  citizens  of  Santa  Rosa,  in  connection  with  the  colonies 
of  Monclova  Viejo  and  San  Vicente,  undertook  a campaign 
during  the  closing  days  of  the  year,  and  in  January,  1850,  ten 
scalps  had  been  taken  from  the  Indians,  *and  eight  more  were 
killed,  but  carried  away  by  their  comrades.  The  citizens  of 
Cuatro  Cienegas  made  an  expedition  to  Lake  Jaeo,  in  quest  of 
a party  of  Indians  supposed  to  be  encamped  there.  The  state- 
ments of  a captive,  who  escaped  from  a band  of  Gilenos,  after 
an  engagement  at  Rosita,  furnished  evidence  that  the  Indians 
had  already  carried  their  stolen  horses  across  the  Rio  Grande. 

Tlie  general  government,  in  its  solicitude  for  the  welfare  of 
the  frontiersman,  ordered  that  the  widows  and  orphans  of  the 
killed  in  the  battle  just  named  should  receive  the  ’’pensions 
fixed  by  law.  Permanent  sections  of  troops  were  stationed  at 
Saltillo  and  Parras,  whose  citizens  cooperated  in  defense,  so 
that  their  vigilance  extended  throughout  the  north,  south  and 
west  of  the  State,  while  the  eastern  line  was  protected  by  the 
detachments  of  national  troops  placed  at  Lampazos,  Mina  and 
Mamulique. 

Wlien  in  the  month  of  June  the  savages  invaded  the  dis- 
trict of  Parras,  causing  immense  losses  over  a hundred  leagues 
of  territory  to  the  northward,  the  authorities  at  Guerrero  wrote 
to  the  government  on  the  llth  of  June  : “ These  misfortunes 

occurred  on  the  12th  instant ; on  the  following  day  this  cor- 
■|)oration  sent  out  a party  of  15  men,  which  returned  to-day, 
after  having  pursued  the  savages  until  they  recrossed  the  Rio* 
Grande.”  From  the  western  extremity  of  the  State,  the  au- 
thorities of  Cienegas  thus  described  the  situation  in  the  same 
month:  “We  do  not  know  to-day  which  way  to  pursue  the 
savages,  for  they  are  seen  in  every  direction,  and  traces  of 
them  are  seen  even  in  the  suburbs  of  this  place.” 

Communication  between  the  frontier  and  Zacatecas  and 
San  Luis  having  been  cut  off  by  Indians  on  the  high  roads, 
the  government  of  Coahuila  informed  the  National  Govern- 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


325 


ment  of  the  fact,  requesting  that  100  men  from  the  colonies 
might  be  sent  to  protect  the  roads.  The  war  department,  un- 
willing to  call  off  troops  from  the  frontiei’,  refused  the  request, 
but  authorized  the  equipment  of  150  more  men  at  the  cost  of 
the  federal  treasury.  The  governor  immediately  raised  such  a 
force  from  among  the  most  experienced  Indian  fighters. 
During  this  whole  year  the  State  Government  was  untiring  in 
its  organization  of  elements  of  defense,  especially  for  the  dis- 
trict of  Parras,  where  hostilities  were  of  daily  recurrence. 

The  picture  presented  by  the  year  1 851  is  frightful.  Coa- 
huila  suffered  91  incursions,  which  occasioned  a loss  of  63  per- 
sons killed,  35  wounded,  11  captives,  and  an  immense  number 
of  horses  plundered  from  almost  every  rancho,  hacienda  and 
settlement  in  the  State,  which  was  literally  inundated  by  more 
than  3,000  Comanches  and  Lipans.  The  number  specified  in 
the  reports  alone  was  over  1,000,  while  in  41  reports  they  were 
not  numerically  estimated  otherwise  than  by  speaking  of  a 
“ large  ” or  a “ considerable  ” body. 

More  than  2,500  soldiers  were  constantly  occupied  through- 
out the  year,  for  not  a week  passed  without  an  appearance  of 
the  enemy  in  some  quarter.  The  engagements  numbered  16, 
a large  number  when  it  is  remembered  that  the  Indians  avoid 
fighting  and  prefer  to  murder  defenseless  victims.  The  eiforts 
of  the  soldiers  and  citizens  effected  the  delivery  of  three  cap- 
tives, the  killing  of  11  Comanches,  and  the  recapture  of  400 
animals.  In  order  to  fully  understand  the  desperate  nature  of 
the  situation,  it  will  only  be  necessary  to  peruse  a few  extracts 
from  the  reports  written  imder  the  impressions  of  the  moment 
by  civil  and  military  authorities. 

The  towns  of  the  Rio  Grande  district,  situated  in  front  of 
Fort  Duncan,  suffered  14  invasions,  and  concerning  one  of  them 
the  mayor  of  Guerrero  wrote  on  the  7th  of  February  in  the 
following  terms  : 

“ At  this  moment  (3  P.  M.)  the  citizens  whom  I sent  in 
pursuit  of  the  Indians  have  returned,  and  they  inform  me  that 
the  savages  have  been  engaged  for  two  nights  in  driving  across 
the  river  the  horses  stolen  from  this  vicinity,  being  probably 
occupied  during  the  daytime  in  ranging  along  the  hills  across 


326 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


the  Kio  Grande,  •watching  wliere  the  liorses  were  kept  on  this 
side,  so  as  to  come  for  them  by  night.  The  citizens  did  not 
cross  the  river  in  pursuit,  because  they  had  no  orders  to  do  so. 
This  new  system  of  strategy  affords  very  little  hope  of  our 
being  able  to  preserve  the  very  few  animals  left  to  us,  and 
wben  they  are  all  gone  the  invaders  will  no  longer  have  to  fear 
the  pursuit  which  they  have  hitherto  experienced  from  us.” 

The  combined  efforts  made  by  the  authorities  to  restrain 
the  overflowing  torrent  of  invasion  were  proportionate  to  the 
gravity  of  the  evil.  The  governor  wrote  to  the  governors  of 
Durango,  Chihuahua,  and  Zacatecas  to  inform  them  that  the 
frequent  onsets  of  the  savages  had  forced  him,  notwithstanding 
the  small  amount  of  his  resources,  to  project  a campaign  in 
combination  with  the  sub-inspector  of  colonies,  and  those  gov- 
ernors were  requested  to  take  appropriate  measures.  The 
legislature  of  Coahuila  imposed  extraordinary  taxes  for  the 
same  purpose,  and  commissioned  one  of  its  members  to  attend 
to  the  organization  of  the  State’s  defense  in  this  disastrous  war. 
The  sub-inspector  of  colonies  gave  instructions  to  Colonel 
Galan,  which  it  is  proper  to  quote  in  part,  as  showing  that  the 
origin  of  the  depredations  was  then  as  it  is  now,  and  always  has 
been,  on  the  left,  or  Ameiucan  side  of  the  Rio  Grande. 

After  naming  the  points  called  San  Yicente,  jSToche  Buena, 
Jaco,  San  Antonio  de  los  Alamos,  Bolson  de  Mapimi,  and 
Laguna  de  Tahualilo,  as  localities  to  be  visited,  forming  a com- 
plete circle  of  400  leagues  from  the  starting  point  at  Piedras 
Negras,  the  sub-inspector  gave  the  following  direction  : 

“ On  the  route  above  designated  there  are  some  places 
which  need  to  be  carefully  explored.  The  first  of  these  is  the 
bank  of  the  Rio  Grande  from  the  montli  of  Pecos  river  to  the 
ford  of  Ahogados,  near  which  last  point  the  Indians  xoho  de- 
vastate this  department  generally  cross  the  river,  having  their 
villages  near  by  on  the  ogoposite  banhy 

It  was  also  ordered,  in  pursuance  of  instructions  from  the 
"War  Department,  to  make  no  peace  with  the  Comanches, 
Apaches,  Mescaleros,  and  other  tribes  which  lead  a wandering 
life  on  the  American  territory,  exclusively  occupied  in  hunting 
and  in  warfare. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


327 


The  campaign  was  organized,  consisting  of  troops  from  the 
colonies,  along  ■with  some  Seminole  and  Kickapoo  Indians,  who 
had  recently  arrived  in  the  country.  The  latter  abandoned 
the  expedition  during  its  return  march,  in  order  to  attend  to 
their  families,  which  had  been  left  unprotected.  The  party 
was  engaged  for  two  months  in  traversing  the  desert,  and  twice 
gave  battle  to  the  savages.  The  commander,  in  his  report, 
dated  August  4th,  said  : 

“ I continued  my  march  up  the  Eio  Grande,  and  Sergeant 
Candido  Guerra  had  another  engagement  on  the  river  with  the 
savages,  who  were  returning  with  their  plunder  to  their  vil- 
lages situated  across  the  river.  He  succeeded  in  recovering  a 
boy  who  was  captured  from  the  hacienda  of  Ilermanas.  I 
then  detached  an  officer  to  pursue  the  fugitives  to  the  Eio 
Grande.  On  his  return  he  stated  tliat  he  had  traced  the  trail 
of  the  enem}’,  numbering  87,  across  the  river,  and  that  when 
once  on  the  other  side  they  moved  slowly,  knowing  tliat  the 
Mexicans  were  not  allowed  to  pursue  them  on  that  side.” 

The  experienced  officer.  Colonel  Jtian  Galan,  who  made 
this  report,  added  some  highly  important  information,  as  fol- 
lows : 

“I  continued  my  march  the  next  day  (July  4th,  1851)  up 
the  river,  and,  examining  as  many  places  as  possible,  I found 
on  the  left  side  several  trails  along  which  the  savages  had 
lately  passed  in  small  parties,  with  their  booty  from  our  fron- 
tier. I was  satisfied  that  for  more  than  a year  no  savages  have 
lived  on  this  side  the  river  between  the  colonies  and  the  junc- 
tion of  the  Sierra,  and  that  they  have  their  villages  not  far 
from  the  latter  point  on  the  river  Pecos.” 

In  the  careful  examination  which  was  then  made  of  the 
canyons  of  the  Sierra  del  Carmen,  it  was  ascertained  with  equal 
certainty  that  the  savages  no  longer  inhabited  those  mountains 
as  formerly.  The  deserts  of  Chihuahua  were  also  explored, 
and  there  were  ffiund,  near  San  Vicente,  the  trails  of  savages 
conducting  the  spoils  of  the  interior  States  across  the  Eio 
Grande  to  their  villages. 

All  efforts  for  the  due  chastisement  of  the  savages  having 
proved  futile,  on  account  of  their  residence  being  in  American 
territory,  and  the  evil  being  beyond  remedy  so  long  as  this 


323 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


situation  should  last,  the  sub-inspector  was  careful  to  so  inform 
the  commandant-general,  which  he  did  in  connection  with  sub- 
mitting the  report  of  Colonel  Galan,  in  the  following  terms : 

“ By  the  testimony  of  Col.  Galan,  in  confirmation  of  the 
documents  I sent  you  on  July  27th  and  the  3d  instant,  it  is 
shown  that  the  savages  set  out  on  their  campaigns  against  ns 
from  the  head  waters  of  the  rivers  Colorado  and  Xiieces,  from 
the  junction  of  the  Pecos  M’ith  the  Rio  Grande,  and  other 
])oints  in  Texas  where  they  live ; that  our  spoils  and  captives 
are  sold  to  specidators  and  traders  who  live  among  them,  in- 
creasing their  brutal  covetousness,  and  making  this  warfare 
interminable;  that  therefore  Mexico  cannot  expect  the  protec- 
tion oflered  her  by  the  treaty  of  Guadalupe  Hidalgo,  and  must 
take  measures  of  her  own  to  secure  such  protection,” 

Colonel  Maldonado,  the  sub-inspector  of  the  eastern  colo- 
nies, did  not  confine  his  attention  to  the  reports  of  his  subor- 
dinate when  he  affirmed  that  the  Indians  resided  exclusively 
in  the  Hnited  States,  but  referred  to  other  proofs  already  for- 
warded, which  showed,  as  he  said,  that  our  spoils  and  captives 
were  objects  of  traffic  in  the  United  States,  in  spite  of  treaties, 
and  that  the  war  had  become  interminable  in  consequence  of 
the  stimulus  given  it  by  that  criminal  traffic. 

All  the  governors  of  the  frontier  States  responded  to  the 
cry  of  alarm  raised  on  the  banks  of  the  Rio  Grande,  not  so 
much  on  account  of  the  non-fulfillment  of  a treaty  as  on  ac- 
count of  the  ])rotection  given  to  their  enemies  in  Texas  and 
other  parts  of  the  United  States,  and  the  alliance  made  with 
them  for  the  plunder  and  annihilation  of  Mexico.  The  States 
of  San  Luis,  Zacatecas,  Durango,  Chihuahua,  Coahuila,  Ruevo 
Leon  and  Tamaulipas  formed  a coalition,  and  prepared  for  the 
conflict  by  uniting  their  troops  and  their  resources. 

From  every  side  outcries  were  made  against  so  flagrant  a 
violation  of  treaties  and  of  natural  law.  The  official  gazette  of 
Durango  copied,  this  year,  the  text  of  the  11th  article  of  the 
Treaty  of  Guadalupe,  and  narrated  the  fruitless  efforts  of  the 
Mexican  Minister,  Senor  La  Rosa,  to  obtain  from  the  Govern- 
ment at  Washington  its  fulfillment,  which  subject  was  brought 
before  a committee  of  the  American  Senate.  The  writer  ex- 
claimed, in  conclusion  : “ That  government  which  is  the  read- 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


329 


iest  to  raise  an  outcry  when  any  breach  of  treaty  is  committed 
by  other  nations,  is  itself  scandalously  and  unscrupulously 
breaking  the  faith  which  it  pledged  in  the  name  of  God  Al- 
mighty ! ” 

It  was  despair  which  burst  forth  in  this  cry  and  this  invoca- 
tion. From  this  time  it  was  currently  said  that  since  the 
United  States  had  no  settlements  along  the  750  leagues  of  its 
frontier  from  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Grande  to  the  Pacilic,  it 
took  no  care  to  fulfill  its  agreements,  and  that  it  overlooked 
them  because  the  sufferers  were  Mexicans.  From  that  time  the 
writers  at  Durango,  guided  by  the  soundest  principles  of  nat- 
ural law,  maintained  that  nothing  could  be  more  just  and  rea- 
sonable than  the  demand  made  by  the  Mexican  Government 
upon  that  of  the  United  States,  on  account  of  those  depreda- 
tions, even  apart  from  the  treaty  of  Guadalupe  Hidalgo. 

The  Government  of  Coahuila,  in  inviting  that  of  San  Luis 
to  unite  its  forces  and  resources  for  an  effort  to  restrain  tlie  in- 
vasions, stated  the  necessity  of  maintaining  troops  in  the  Bolson 
of  Mapimi  and  other  points,  to  prevent  the  savages  from  main- 
taining there  their  places  of  deposit  for  booty  and  centers  of 
operations  during  their  inroads.  The  situation  imperiously  de- 
manded such  a concert  of  action,  and  the  governor  added  : 
‘‘This,  in  my  opinion,  is  what  is  most  urgent  to  be  done,  until 
the  Supreme  Government  can  properly  defend  the  frontier, 
and  the  United  States  carry  out  the  obligation  it  contracted  to 
restrain  the  incursions  of  the  Indians.”  Ho  one  failed  to  see 
that  the  evil  could  not  be  remedied  without  the  intervention  of 
that  republic  as  being  the  source  whence  it  proceeded  and  was 
fomented. 

Hot  a single  day  passed  without  some  confirmation  being 
given  of  the  neglect  imputed  to  the  United  States,  and  even 
the  most  simple  minded  fully  understood  the  bearings  of  the 
situation,  and  depicted  it  as  perfectly  as  words  can  express  it. 

The  chairman  of  the  common  council  of  Guerrero,  on  the 
8th  of  October,  1851,  after  enumerating  the  murders  and  rob- 
beries of  the  day  before,  employed  the  following  language  in  a 
dispatch  to  the  government ; 

“ This  continual  recurrence  of  murders  and  robberies,  for 


330 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


which  no  remedy  can  he  found,  is  a sad  omen,  and  the  more  so 
since  we  are  prohibited  from  taking  effective  action  for  driving 
away  tlie  marauders  from  our  homes,  through  fear  of  the 
United  States.  That  country  offered  in  the  treaty  of  Guada- 
lupe to  restrain  siicli  inroads,  whereas  its  own  territory  now 
affords  a secure  refuge  for  the  marauders.  In  this  afflicting 
situation,  where  can  we  find  a remedy  for  the  sufferings  which 
overwhelm  us?  Our  only  resource  is  to  send  our  complaints 
to  your  government,  and  to  incpiire  whetlier  the  governor  will 
kindly  allow  us  to  pursue  the  savages  (into  American  territory) 
so  as  to  punish  them  and  drive  them  from  their  headquarters ; 
and  if  this  cannot  be  done,  although  according  to  natural  law 
it  would  seem  proper  and  urgently  necessary  to  do  it  under  the 
circumstances,  I would  request  him  to  authorize  me  to  solicit 
from  the  American  commander  near  Piedras  Negras  the  fulfill- 
ment of  the  11th  article  of  the  said  treaty  of  Guadalupe,  send- 
ing a force  to  the  residence  of  our  Indian  enemies  to  punish 
them  and  return  us  our  property.” 

The  sub-inspector  of  the  colonies  had  written  the  day  pre- 
vious in  a similar  strain,  relating  his  recent  observations.  He 
stated  that  having  pursued  the  Indians  until  they  crossed  the 
river,  the  citizens  who  accompanied  him  were  exasperated  at 
seeing  the  enemy  leisurely  halting  on  the  other  side,  and  pro- 
posed to  go  over  and  punish  them,  which  he  had  some  difflculty 
in  preventing,  by  adding  persuasion  to  command. 

This  honored  commander,  who  carried  to  such  an  extreme 
the  strict  fulfillment  of  the  orders  of  his  government,  was 
obliged  to  place  infantry  every  night  to  guard  the  fords  of  the 
river.  All  this  took  place  at  only  ten  leagues  from  Fort  Dun- 
can, the  commander  of  which  took  no  notice  of  these  occur- 
rences and  employed  no  measures  for  repressing  the  Indians. 
It  was  a settled  policy  to  permit  them  to  do  as  they  pleased,  so 
long  as  they  did  not  injure  American  citizens.  The  sub-in- 
spector had  perceived  this  from  the  time  of  the  revolt  of  the 
Kickapoos,  which  had  occurred  a few  months  before,  when,  as 
will  be  seen  in  the  proper  place,  the  I'equests  made  to  the 
American  commander  produced  no  result. 

The  culpable  negligence  of  the  American  government  was 
proved  by  daily  observation  on  the  frontier.  The  governors 
of  Coahuila  and  Huevo  Leon  therefore  addressed  separate  notes 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


331 


to  the  minister  of  foreign  affairs,  requesting  liim  to  arrange 
with  the  government  at  Washington  for  the  Mexican  troops  to 
be  allowed  to  cross  the  river  in  pursuit  of  the  retreating 
mai’auders,  or  for  that  government  to  place  on  the  frontier 
sufficient  forces  to  prevent  their  incursions  in  the  name  of  com- 
mon humanity. 

These  petitions  and  demands  from  the  frontier  States  show 
clearly  that  at  the  close  of  the  year  1851  all  the  incursions 
came  from  the  United  States,  that  the  booty  was  carried 
thither,  and  that  the  American  government  had  not  properly 
garrisoned  the  border.  The  State  authorities  did  all  in  their 
power  to  promote  a mutual  understanding  between  the  two 
nations,  while  the  national  government,  in  the  belief  that  such 
understanding  existed,  had  taken  its  measures  to  deal  with  the 
fugitive  tribes,  which  it  was  supposed  would  be  driven  into 
Mexico  by  pursuit  on  the  part  of  the  Americans.  Never  was 
there  a more  costly  deception,  nor  one  less  merited  from  the 
responsible  party. 

To  fill  the  measure  of  the  woes  of  the  Mexican  frontier, 
there  was  only  lacking  a menace  of  filibusters.  The  colonel 
commanding  at  Fort  Duncan,  on  the  3d  of  November,  1851, 
came  over  to  Piedras  Negras  to  advise  the  inspector  of  the 
western  colonies  that  he  had  learned  by  express  of  the  approach 
from  the  direction  of  Bejar  of  a group  of  adventurers  intend- 
ing to  depredate  on  the  frontier,  and  that  Adams,  the  negro 
hunter,  was  at  Leona  with  seventeen  men.  All  that  he  offered 
to  do  in  the  premises  w’as  to  prevent  them  from  crossing  the 
river  at  the  places  where  he  had  any  forces  stationed,  and  the 
terms  of  this  offer  showed  that  the  action  of  the  Federal  author- 
ities did  not  extend  to  the  disarming  of  the  bandits.  The  State 
authorities  of  Texas  acted  in  the  same  manner. 

Under  such  circumstances,  the  warning  could  not  be  con- 
sidered as  any  service.  Its  only  effect  was  to  draw  off  from 
the  Indian  war  all  available  forces,  and  place  them  in  readiness 
to  meet  the  new  perils  which  it  will  be  remembered  menaced 
Tamaulipas  and  Nuevo  Leon  at  this  time,  producing  the  same 
result.  In  fact,  both  savage  and  civilized  enemies  only  did 


332 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


tlie  same  work,  and  that  work  was  the  ruin  of  the  Mexican  fron- 
tier. 

After  the  heartrending  picture  of  murders  and  desolation 
which  characterized  the  year  1851,  it  could  not  have  been 
anticipated  that  any  greater  misery  was  in  store  for  the  ensuing 
year.  Yet  such  was  the  case.  During  the  year  1852,  more 
than  2,000  Indians  appeared  110  times  in  the  towns  and  ranchos 
of  the  State,  causing  a loss  of  73  persons  killed,  48  wounded 
and  32  captives.  The  effective  loss  was  five  per  cent,  of  the 
whole  population,  which  was  then  less  than  70,000  souls. 
Propert}'  was  almost  extinguished,  all  industry  was  destroyed 
or  paralyzed.  It  will  now  he  understood  why  the  governor  of 
Yuevo  Leon,  in  his  message  to  the  legislature,  said  that  al- 
though the  misfortunes  of  the  State  had  been  frightful,  they 
had  been  less  than  those  suffered  by  other  frontier  States. 

This  Commission  is  not  in  the  habit  of  making  calculations, 
but  of  simply  presenting  official  data.  In  the  present  instance, 
however,  it  will  venture,  in  consideration  of  the  perfectly  evi- 
dent deficiencies  of  the  official  reports  in  giving  account  of 
losses  of  life  and  property,  to  double  the  official  statement  of 
killed,  wounded  and  captives  for  the  year  in  question.  The 
result  shows  an  amount  of  destruction  greater  than  that  caused 
by  the  most  dreaded  scourge  of  mankind,  the  cholera. 

In  sixteen  engagements  with  the  savages,  three  captives 
were  recovered  and  a small  number  of  horses.  Besides  the 
constant  assaults  of  the  accustomed  foe,  the  filibusters  also  kept 
the  border  in  continual  alarm. 

In  1853,  all  four  of  the  districts  of  Coahuila  were  overrun  by 
great  numbers  of  Comanches,  who  killed  28  persons,  wounded 
24  and  carried  captive  six  children.  In  seven  engagements, 
although  a few  horses  were  recovered,  none  of  the  captives  were 
freed. 

During  the  ten  years,  from  1854  to  1864,  the  inroads  of  the 
savages  were  incessant,  and  none  of  the  inhabited  points  in 
Coahuila  escaped  the  consequences.  During  this  period,  ac- 
cording to  official  data,  there  were  124  persons  killed,  43 
wounded  and  20  carried  captive.  In  the  numerous  engage- 
ments twelve  of  the  captives  were  recovered,  and  more  than  800 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


333 


animals.  There  were  occasions  when  the  same  town  was  simul- 
taneously approached  from  three  or  four  different  directions. 
The  farmers  were  obliged  to  grasp  with  one  hand  the  plow 
and  with  the  other  the  rifle,  and  they  were  not  unfrequently 
laid  dead  in  the  furrow.  Wagon  trains  were  abandoned  on 
the  hio’h  road  after  the  murder  of  the  wagoners  and  seizure  of 

O O 

the  mules.  The  raising  of  sheep  was  entirely  abandoned  from 
the  unusual  peril  to  which  the  shepherds  were  exposed,  and 
this  prosperous  industry  of  the  frontier  States  completely  dis- 
appeared. 

Other  serious  evils  were  first  felt  during  this  period.  The 
robbery  of  cattle  had  now  become  an  object  for  the  Indians,  who 
had  heretofore  taken  only  horses  and  mules.  The  coincidence 
of  the  new  settlements  made  at  the  same  time  in  the  western 
part  of  Texas,  adjoining  the  Indian  country,  gave  reason  to 
suppose  that  the  cattle  were  stolen  for  the  ulterior  benefit  of 
these  fresh  customers. 

The  authorities  never  displayed  greater  zeal,  activity  and 
energy  than  now  in  the  pursuit  of  the  savages,  expeditions 
being  repeatedly  sent  into  the  desert  as  far  as  the  Laguna  de 
Jaco.  On  such  an  expedition  in  1856,  a captive  was  recovered 
named  Crescencio  Santiago,  who  was  a boy  at  school  in  Du- 
rango when  carried  off,  fourteen  years  before.  He  stated  that 
his  captors  and  all  the  Indians  who  marauded  in  Mexico  re- 
sided in  Texas,  between  the  Rio  Grande  and  the  Colorado, 
where  they  left  their  families,  and  where  they  traded  their 
booty  for  arms,  provisions  and  clothing  at  an  American  settle- 
ment. 

In  March,  1856,  in  consequence  of  depredations  committed 
by  the  Lipans,  who  resided  in  villages  in  Coahuila,  and  had 
been  regarded  as  at  peace,  stringent  measures  were  taken  with 
them,  as  will  be  more  particularly  related  in  a future  section 
devoted  to  this  tribe.  The  result  was  the  extermination  of  a 
great  portion  of  this  tribe,  and  the  flight  of  the  survivors  into 
Texas,  where  they  established  themselves  on  the  Rio  Pecos, 
and  thence  continued,  in  combination  with  the  Mescaleros,  their 
depredations  iipon  both  countries,  as  will  be  proved  by  the 
statements  of  captives.  But  from  this  lime  the  tribe  may  be 


33i 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


considered  as  having  disappeared,  and  it  would  scarcely  be 
necessary  to  mention  them  were  it  not  for  charges  made  against 
Mexico  of  protecting  their  depredations  in  1S61,  at  the  time  of 
the  beginning  of  the  American  civil  war. 

Early  in  that  year  the  Lipans,  in  union  with  the  Mesca- 
leros,  came  from  the  river  Pecos  (Texas)  and  attacked  the  Mexi- 
can town  of  Kesurreccion,  the  most  northern  settlement  of 
Coahuila,  on  the  Rio  Grande.  Several  of  the  inhabitants  were 
killed,  and  five  children  were  carried  captive,  who  were  not  re- 
covered nntil  seven  years  later,  all  which  time  they  passed  with 
their  captors  in  American  territory. 

Under  pretext  of  rendering  assistance  to  The  suffering  town. 
Captain  H.  A.  Hamner,  commander  in  the  neighboring  Fort 
Clark,  committed  an  outrage  upon  the  laws  of  Mexico. 
Without  any  authorization,  he  brought  over  some  troops  and 
accompanied  the  citizens  in  pursuing  the  Indians  a few  leagues, 
without  result.  On  his  return  to  the  town,  he  demanded  the 
surrender  of  a negro  whom  he  claimed  as  his  slave.  Happily, 
he  did  not  gain  his  object,  on  account  of  the  firmness  of  the 
citizens. 

In  May  and  June,  18G1,  Colonel  John  H.  Baylor,  com- 
mander at  Fort  Duncan,  complained,  to  the  First  Alcalde  of 
Piedras  Negras,  of  outrages  committed  in  Texas  by  numerous 
parties  of  Indians,  whom  he  supposed  to  be  Lipans,  coming 
from  Mexico.  He  also  wrote  to  the  Mexican  military  com- 
mander of  the  frontier,  and  to  the  governor  of  the  State,  to 
the  same  purport,  sending  these  letters  by  Captain  Hamner,  as 
a special  commissioner  to  treat  of  this  subject,  and  also  to 
propose  a combined  action  against  the  tribes  of  Mescaleros, 
Apaches  and  Comanches,  whom  he  characterized  as  “ common 
enemies.”  At  the  same  time  he  enlarged  upon  the  necessity 
of  a good  understanding  between  Mexico  and  the  Confederate 
States,  in  view  of  the  increased  trade  which  would  be  the  re- 
sult of  “the  unjust  war  which  Abraham  Lincoln  has  com- 
menced against  us.” 

The  governor  of  the  State  replied  to  Colonel  Baylor,  under 
date  of  June  29th,  showing  the  impossibility  of  the  aggressors 
in  Texas  being  Lipans,  that  tribe  having  been  reduced  in  1856 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


335 


to  a small  number  of  individuals,  known  to  be  poor  and  with- 
out horses.  He  expressed  his  conviction  that  the  real  culprits 
were  Comanches  and  Mescaleros. 

In  December  18G1,  January  and  March  1862,  the  Lipans 
gave  further  evidence  of  their  sentiments  towards  Mexico  by 
coming  with  the  Mescaleros  and  robbing  again  near  Resurrec- 
cion,  and  at  Yilla  Muzcpiiz,  whence  they  carried  off  more  tlian 
a thousand  cattle.  They  were  pursued  by  two  bodies  of  troops 
until  they  reached  the  Rio  Grande,  en  route  for  their  villages 
on  the  Pecos,  taking  with  them  the  Indian  inhabitants  of 
“ Burro,”  who  had  heretofore  been  considered  as  peaceably 
disposed. 

In  Coahuila,  as  in  the  other  frontier  States,  the  Indian 
hostilities  diminished  rapidly  after  the  outbreak  of  the  Ameri- 
can civil  war.  This  phenomenon  was  undoubtedly  due  to  the 
same  causes  which  have  been  mentioned  in  another  place. 
Since  the  re-establishment  of  order,  hostilities  have  again  been 
resumed,  though  with  less  activity  than  before.  The  invasions 
have  generally  been  by  the  lower  fords  of  the  Rio  Grande, 
from  Guerrero  to  San  Ignacio  (Texas).  The  aggressors  have 
invariably  been  Comanches  or  Kiowas,  who  have  first  marauded 
in  Texas,  have  crossed  to  Mexico  with  their  booty,  and  again 
recrossed  at  another  point.  This  tactics  has  contributed  to 
throw  suspicion  on  the  Kickapoos,  and  has  also  aided  the 
marauders  to  carry  off  their  booty,  though  it  has  sometimes 
been  taken  from  them  in  Mexico  and  returned  to  the  owners  in 
Texas.  Sometimes  these  invaders,  returning  from  their  raids 
in  Mexico,  have  been  attacked  by  troops  from  Fort  Clark,  and 
the  booty  taken  from  them,  though  Mexican  property,  has  been 
regarded  as  a lawful  prize. 

The  continual  expeditions  organized  in  Coahuila,  as  may 
be  seen  in  the  journals  of  their  commanders,  have  always 
stopped  at  the  Rio  Grande,  and  testify  that  all  the  booty  has 
been  carried  across.  On  the  few  occasions  when,  by  invitation 
of  American  officers,  the  forces  of  the  two  nations  have  been 
united  in  pursuit,  the  line  of  march  has  always  been  on  the 
left  bank,  up  to  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Pecos,  where  the  hostile 
Indians  have  been  found,  with  a few  exceptions,  when,  in  order 


336 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


to  deceive  the  American  troops,  they  have  hastily  crossed  the 
Kio  Grande  to  the  right  bank,  but  have  returned  when  the 
danger  was  past. 

On  reflecting  upon  the  long  duration  of  Indian  warfare  in 
Coahuila,  it  is  easy  to  see  that  the  losses  must  amount  to  a 
very  large  sum.  Very  few,  liowever,  have  been  registered, 
for  a multitude  of  difficulties  has  prevented  the  citizens  from 
appearing  before  this  Commission.  One  of  these  difficulties 
arose  from  the  uprising  of  the  Lipans,  in  Se])tember  last  (1873), 
and  the  murders  committed  by  them  in  revenge  for  the  attack 
made  npon  them  by  American  troops  (the  McKenzie  raid)  in 
Mexican  territory.  This  cause  operated  on  all  the  frontier 
towns,  and  local  political  disturbances  had  the  same  effect  in 
Monclova,  Saltillo,  Parras  and  Viesca.  Such  considerations  as 
have  been  advanced  respecting  the  claimants  of  Tamaulipas 
and  Kuevo  Leon,  induce  us  to  form  a favorable  judgment 
upon  the  claims  which  are  set  forth  in  an  accompanying  table, 
and  which  amount  to  a considerable  sum. 

The  victims  sacrificed  have  been  innumerable,  especially 
on  the  three  occasions  when  the  American  troops  have  chas- 
tised Indians  who  were  living  in  peace  in  Mexico,  and  which 
led  the  Lipans  ultimately,  after  perpretrating  great  depreda- 
tions, to  retire  up  the  Pecos  river  into  the  heart  of  Kew  Mexico. 

In  concluding  this  general  review  of  Indian  incursions  in 
Coahuila,  it  is  needless  to  mention  that  it  completes  those 
relating  to  the  other  two  frontier  States,  inasmuch  as  the  points 
of  crossing  the  river,  and  those  which  served  them  as  head- 
quarters during  their  raids  were  generally  in  this  State. 

The  reclamations  collected  in  all  three  States  have  been 
mainly  presented  as  evidence  before  this  Commission,  though 
some  of  them  have  been  received  by  local  judges,  by  virtue  of 
powers  given  by  it,  and  in  conformity  with  the  rules  published 
at  the  commencement  of  the  investigation.  These  evidences 
and  the  extracts  made  from  the  local  archives  will  prove  the 
sufferings  of  the  frontier  towns  of  Mexico,  and  that  the  pro- 
tection extended  to  them,  though  greater  than  that  existing  on 
the  American  border,  has  been  far  from  meeting  the  necessities 
of  the  case,  and  the  demands  of  national  interests,  arising 


NORTHERX  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


337 


from  the  proximity  of  the  towns  of  two  Republics.  Great 
embarrassments  on  the  frontier  must  be  ascribed  to  the  lies'- 

O 

ligence  of  botli  Governments,  who  have  never  heretofore  prop- 
erly examined  this  important  subject. 


IXDIAX  DEPREDATIONS  IN  ZACATECAS  AND 
SAN  LUIS  POTOSl. 

The  same  robberies  and  horrible  butcheries  which  have 
been  narrated  in  the  cases  of  the  frontier  States,  also  took 
place  in  Zacatecas  and  San  Luis.  The  sufferings  of  these 
States  were  ecpially  grave,  although  of  less  duration,  because 
the  savages  did  not  carry  their  inroads  so  far,  until  they  had 
already  desolated  the  vast  area  wliich  lies  between  them  and 
the  frontier.  Publications  made  in  1849  and  succeeding 
years  afford  sufficient  data  fo'*  forming  an  idea  of  their 
magnitude,  although  the  Commission  has  not  visited  any  of 
the  localities  in  question.  The  account  now  given  of  these 
depredations  will  therefore  be  brief,  and  is  chieffy  introduced 
as  being  confirmatory  of  the  opinions  already  expressed 
as  to  the  motive  of  such  distant  incursions,  namely,  the 
criminal  traffic  begun  in  1835  by  American  citizens  with 
the  savage  tribes.  After  1848  this  traffic,  instead  of  being 
abandoned,  as  was  required  by  the  good  faith  pledged  in  a 
solemn  treaty,  was  extended,  and  resulted  in  the  desolation  of 
these  rich  States. 

The  superior  authorities  of  Zacatecas  and  San  Luis,  know- 
ing well  that  the  savage  tribes  of  the  North,  had  to  traverse 
Nuevo  Leon,  Coahuila  and  Durango  before  reaching  their  own 
borders,  had  recourse  to  a union  of  all  the  States  in  ques- 
tion,— the  first  proposal  of  such  a coalition  having  been 
made  by  the  governor  of  San  Luis.  That  functionary,  on  the 
25th  of  August,  1851,  after  informing  the  Government  of 
Nuevo  Leon,  that  three  parties  of  Indians  were  raiding  in  the 
north  of  the  State,  went  on  to  say  : 

“It  would  seem  proper  under  the  circumstances,  for  the 
governments  of  Zacatecas,  Chihuahua,  Coahuila,  Nuevo  Leon, 
22 


338 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


Tainanlipas  and  San  Luis  Potosi,  to  unite  in  a common  plan 
of  defense,  each  State  aflbrding  the  resources  in  its  power, 
and  acting  in  combination  with  the  greatest  energy  for  the 
punishment  of  the  savages.” 

The  result  of  this  proposal  was  the  appointment  of  com- 
missioners from  the  several  States  named,  who  drew  up  a plan 
of  defense.  This  measure  proves  not  merely  the  generality 
and  importance  of  the  danger,  but  that  it  proceeded  from  the 
United  States,  whence  the  invaders  came,  and  whither  they 
returned  with  their  booty  ; it  also  shows  that  the  evil  had 
become  extreme,  as  was  recognized  by  the  Governor  of  jS’uevo 
Leon  in  accepting  the  invitation. 

While  the  Commissioners  of  the  invaded  States  were  as- 
sembled at  Saltillo,  their  natural  center,  and  were  engaged  in 
the  formation  of  a plan  of  defense,  horrible  scenes  were  enacted 
in  the  State  of  Zacatecas,  where  the  haciendas  and  ranchos  of 
Sombrerete,  San  Andres  del  Teul  and  Fresnillo  were  devas- 
tated by  a multitude  of  savages.  During  this  year,  1852,  the 
ravages  reached  the  State  of  Jalisco,  wdiich  thereupon  joined 
the  coalition,  and  gave  $10,000  j^er  annum  for  the  expenses  of 
the  campaign. 

In  July,  1852,  more  than  50  persons  were  murdered  near 
Fresnillo.  The  districts  of  Sombrerete  and  Jerez  were  next 
attacked,  and  though  the  government  sent  more  than  400  men 
in  pursuit,  it  was  rendered  fruitless  by  the  fact  that  white  rob- 
bers accompanied  the  Indians,  guiding  and  directing  their 
movements  veiy  skillfully. 

It  was  not  in  Zacatecas  alone  that  it  had  been  observed  that 
the  Indians  were  guided  in  their  work  of  murder  and  robbery 
by  intelligent  white  men.  Three  years  before  the  same  obser- 
vation had  been  made  in  Xuevo  Leon,  by  a director  of  the  colo- 
nies, who  informed  the  inspector-general  that  citizens  of  San 
Antonio,  Texas,  accompanied  the  Indians,  as  he  perceived  by 
their  dress  and  other  pecularities,  which  left  him  no  doubt  on 
the  subject.  The  same  discovery  was  made  by  the  authorities 
of  Agualeguas,  in  Xuevo  Leon,  and  the  fact  was  confirmed  by 
the  testimony  of  a captive  from  K’uevo  Laredo,  in  Tamaulipas. 

In  view  of  news  received  by  express,  that  700  Comanches 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


339 


were  approaching  through  Durango,  the  whole  State  of  Zaca- 
tecas rose  in  arms  to  repel  them.  At  this  time  the  hostilities 
reached  ten  States,  including,  besides  those  previously  men- 
tioned, those  of  Sonora  and  Sinaloa.  All  these  aggressors  were 
either  Comanches  or  Apaches,  of  which  tribes  there  was  not  a 
single  village  located  on  Mexican  soil,  as  was  declared  this  year 
by  the  experienced  Colonel  Galan,  in  his  report  of  an  extensive 
exploration  of  the  Mexican  deserts. 

If,  in  addition  to  what  has  been  said  respecting  the  frontier 
States,  separately,  we  sum  up  the  results  in  each  year,  and  take 
note  of  the  immense  number  of  regular  troops  and  militia  con- 
stantly employed  in  the  Indian  service,  we  shall,  after  all,  only 
be  able  to  form  an  insufficient  idea  of  the  vast  amount  of  the 
losses.  In  illustration  of  this  statement,  it  may  be  enough  to 
refer  to  the  sufferings  of  a single  one  of  the  districts  of  Zaca- 
tecas. In  Marzai^il  there  were  more  than  100  persons  killed, 
wounded  and  taken  captive — a fact  which  will  startle  even 
those  most  accustomed  to  the  bloody  scenes  of  the  frontier. 

Xo  one  will  be  surprised  to  learn  that  in  Zacatecas,  troops 
were  ultimately  recruited  to  be  exclusively  employed  in  pursuit 
of  the  savages.  This  was  done  in  1857,  under  the  direction  of 
Colonel  Francisco  Trevino,  from  whose  skill  in  this  warfare  the 
best  results  were  obtained.  In  one  of  his  numerous  engage- 
ments, he  recovered  from  the  enemy  8,000  horses,  and  on 
another  occasion  a quantity  of  bars  of  silver.  Such  facts  de- 
monstrate the  great  number  of  the  invaders,  and  indicate  the 
vast  amount  of  life  and  property  which  must  have  been  sacri- 
ficed in  this  State  from  1818  to  1857.  The  preceding  data  re- 
specting Mazapil,  are  the  only  ones  which  have  been  furnished 
the  Commission,  but  it  is  evident  that  other  districts  which  are 
wealthier  and  more  populous  must  have  suffered  more  severely. 

As  to  San  Luis,  only  very  general  iifformation  has  been  ob- 
tained, but  the  simple  fact  of  that  State  having  been  the  first 
to  propose  a coalition  against  the  savages,  shows  that  its  suf- 
ferings must  have  been  cruel.  It  has  already  been  mentioned 
that  San  Luis  had  first  become  a prey  to  such  hostilities  in 
1810,  shortly  after  that  great  impulse  which  precipitated  the 
tribes  of  the  plains  against  the  Mexican  frontiei-.  Horrible 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


SiO 

butcheries  and  extensive  robberies  were  then  perpetrated,  as 
appears  by  the  records  of  that  period,  but  tliese  former  ravages 
were  undoubtedly  surpassed  by  tliose  which  gave  rise  to  the 
coalition  of  1852. 

In  the  conferences  for  drawing  up  a plan  of  defense,  it  was 
recognized  that  the  enemy  resided  in  the  United  Stsites,  and 
it  was  for  this  reason  that  the  governors  said  in  tlieir  notes  to 
the  Supreme  Government,  that  nothing  practicable  could  be 
devised  unless  the  privilege  of  pursuing  the  savages  on  Amer- 
ican soil  could  be  obtained,  or  the  American  Government 
could  be  induced  to  attack  them  after  crossing  the  Rio  Grande. 
The  latter  alternative,  it  was  added,  was  out  of  the  question, 
through  the  scarcity  of  troops  along  the  entire  line  of  the 
American  frontier,  and  till  more  forces  were  placed  there,  the 
desolation  of  the  Mexican  border  was  inevitable. 

AVh  en,  therefore,  the  Plan  of  Defense  was  published,  under 
date  of  the  22d  of  February,  1S52,  its  T8th  article  was  in  the 
following  terms: 

‘‘The  governments  of  the  coalition  will  earnestly  urge  the 
supreme  national  authorities  to  obtain  from  the  government  at 
Washington  permission  for  Mexican  forces  to  cross  the  Rio 
Grande,  and  attack  the  nomadic  tribes  which  reside  in  that 
territory ; without  omitting  to  demand  constantly  and  vigor- 
ously the  fultillment  of  Article  11th,  of  the  Treaty  of  Guada- 
lupe, and  an  indemnitication  for  the  losses  which  the  frontier 
has  heretofore  suffered  from  the  non-fultillment  of  that  article.” 

The  national  coffers,  the  donations  of  States  which  were 
free  from  such  ravages,  the  fortunes  of  private  individuals,  all 
aided  the  border  States  in  their  warfare  against  the  savages. 
Rut  the  American  government  did  nothing  to  comply  with  its 
natural  and  prescriptive  obligations.  Ten  years  after  the 
treaty  of  Guadalupe,  the  frontier  was  still  ungarrisoned,  and 
later,  tlie  inefficient  organization  of  the  troops  stationed  there, 
their  small  number  and  miserable  armament,  neither  afforded 
security  to  the  American  settlements  nor  impeded  the  incur- 
sions of  the  Indians  into  Mexico. 

Now  that  this  plague  has  extended  to  Texas  itself,  and  other 
parts  of  the  United  States,  it  is  seen  that  the  Mexicans  have 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


341 


displayed  a great  superioi’ity  ov^er  their  neighbors  in  their 
mode  of  Indian  warfare.  The  brief  narrative,  wliicb  follows, 
of  depredations  by  Indians  in  Texas,  will  show  the  mode  of 
pursuit  there  adopted,  and  will  confirm  the  opinions  heretofore 
expressed  as  to  the  complicity  of  the  authorities  and  people  of 
the  United  States  in  Indian  robberies  and  butcheries,  for  the 
fact  will  be  revealed  by  military  officers,  by  the  citizens  robbed, 
by  captives  and  by  the  Indians  themselves,  all  agreeing  that 
government  agents  have  supplied  them  with  arms,  thus  inciting 
them  to  commit  these  depredations,  in  which,  moreover,  they 
have  been  directly  aided  by  American  citizens. 


INDIAN  DEPREDATIONS  IN  TEXAS. 

The  Commission  has  already  made  a brief  statement  of  the 
occurrences  which  took  place  in  1831,  in  regard  to  the  savage 
tribes  inhabiting  the  territory  of  the  United  States,  and  also  to 
those  settled  in  Alexico  at  that  date,  when  Texas  was  included 
in  the  republic  of  Mexico.  At  said  period,  as  before  stated, 
the  removal  of  Indian  tribes  from  the  northeastern  to  the  far 
southwestern  portion  of  the  United  States  was  effected,  there- 
by placing  said  tribes  in  contact  with  the  savage  hordes  of 
Mexico. 

In  sundry  portions  of  this  report  the  Commission  have  given 
their  opinion  as  to  the  great  evil  which  this  measure  caused  to 
the  republic  of  Mexico,  basing  said  opinion  upon  extracts 
taken  from  a history  of  all  these  tribes,  written  forty  years  ago 
by  an  American  citizen,  who  crossed  the  plains  several  times, 
was  acquainted  and  had  intercourse  with  the  majority  of 
said  tribes,  those  living  on  the  reservations  included,  and  who 
for  this  very  reason  was  enabled  to  give  a very  minute  account 
of  their  habits,  and  to  prove  the  same  by  the  testimony  of  cap- 
tives and  other  men,  so  well  versed  in  Indian  affairs,  that  full 
credit  cannot  but  be  given  to  the  greater  portion  of  said  history. 

Neither  the  author  nor  any  of  his  countrymen  could  have 
imagined  that  this  work  would  become  the  most  unimpeachable 


342 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


witness,  upon  the  testimony  of  which  we  might  rely  to  jnclge 
successfully  all  questions  relating  to  the  savages,  which  might 
in  time  present  themselves,  on  account  of  the  frequent  depre- 
dations committed  hy  savages  both  in  Mexico  and  in  the 
United  States. 

The  waste  lauds  of  both  countries  were,  in  those  reo-ions, 
very  extensive.  There,  the  Indians  being  free  to  hunt,  it  is  an 
unquestionable  fact  that  no  one  molested  them  ; besides  whicb, 
they  did  not  carry  hostilities  into  Americaif  settlements,  be- 
cause these  were  too  far  removed  from  said  regions,  and  in  the 
places  nearest  to  the  savages  there  w’ere  military  camps  estab- 
lished as  advanced  posts  to  guard  the  reservations. 

Kone  of  the  officers  of  the  United  States  government,  and 
none  of  those  engaged  in  commerce  with  New  Mexico  and 
Chihuahua,  which  commerce  w'as  begun  about  this  time,  could 
help  knowing  that  the  Comanches  and  the  other  tribes,  not 
subject  to  the  jurisdiction  of  the  United  States,  were  in  the 
habit  of  robbing  and  committing  other  crimes  in  the  Mexican 
settlements  ; and,  according  to  Gregg’s  narrative,  this  knowledge 
was  never  a hinderanee  to  prevent  traders  from  dealing  with 
Indians,  but,  quite  on  the  contrary,  Gregg  himself  advised  all 
merchants  who,  out  of  fear,  abstained  from  trading,  to  go 
into  the  business  at  once,  as  he  knew  by  his  own  experience 
that  the  Indians  were  fond  of  trading,  and  always  defended 
those  who  were  in  the  habit  of  bartering  with  them. 

This  author  was  so  utterly  selfish  upon  this  question,  that  his 
judgment  was  entirely  led  astray.  Whilst  condemning  the 
authorities  of  New  Mexico  and  Chihuahua  as  imbeciles  and 
criminals,  on  account  of  the  treaties  of  peace  entered  into  with 
the  Apaches,  notwithstanding  their  depredations  in  other 
sections  of  Mexico,  where  they  w^ere  wont  to  steal  and  then 
convey  their  plunder  to  those  States,  he  did  not  perceive 
that  he  was  committing  himself,  for  he  had  stated  previously 
that  the  Indians  lived  by  plunder  in  Mexico,  and  that  he  never 
thought  it  was  wrong  to  trade  with  them  on  American  soil, 
as  if  tlie  stolen  property  became  legitimate  merchandise  by 
transfer  to  the  ueiffliboriiip;  countrv.  If  his  censure  of  the 

O O V 


XORTHERjr  FROXTIER  QUESTIOX. 


343 


Mexican  authorities  was  just,  tlie  public  functionaries  of  his 
own  country  deserved  it  still  more  for  violating  the  first 
principles  of  law  and  justice,  by  establishing  trading  stations 
and  bartering  with  tribes  of  Indians  who  they  well  knew  were 
robbers  and  assassins,  and  opening  by  tliis  iniquitous  behavior  a 
deep  chasm  wherein  one  half  of  the  wealth  of  Mexico  would  be  en- 
gulfed, and,  sooner  or  later,  a great  portion  of  his  own  country 
also. 

Kegarding  these  two  facts  stated  above,  viz : First,  the 
establishment  of  Indian  reservations  in  close  proximity  to  the 
Comanches  and  Apaches  ; and  second,  the  mercantile  trade 
started  since  that  time  and  continued  up  to  the  present,  it  can 
easily  be  perceived  that  the  Commissioners  have  not  been  mis- 
led in  their  opinion,  when  they  point  them  out  as  the  unique 
cause  to  explain  the  depredations  committed  by  the  Indians, 
both  in  Mexico  and  in  the  United  States.  The  Commission 
deems  it  unnecessary  to  expound  reasons  of  their  own  to  cor- 
roborate that  judgment,  but  will  limit  themselves  to  narrate 
the  depredations  committed  in  Texas,  copying  literally  some 
opinions  of  the  Texans  themselves,  and  of  the  officers  of  the 
United  States  army,  who  have  been  compelled  to  acknowledge 
a glaring  truth,  in  recognizing  that  these  facts  (including  the 
negligence  of  the  United  States  Government)  are  the  cause  of 
the  Indian  devastations  in  Mexico. 

The  Commission  thought  that  a report  of  the  depredations 
committed  in  Texas,  made  at  a time  when  the  minds  of  the 
people  were  unprejudiced,  would  place  the  Indian  questions  in 
their  truelight,  and  the  best  arguments  that  could  be  made  might 
be  based  upon  it.  Through  the  Mexican  consul  at  San  An- 
tonio, Manuel  Maria  Morales,  who  has  given  notorious  proofs 
of  his  energy  and  laboriousness,  the  Commission  has  just 
received  data  relating  to  the  depredations  of  the  Indians  in 
that  State,  from  1857  to  the  present,  with  the  only  exception 
of  those  committed  during  the  Confederate  war,  which  were 
not  found  mentioned  in  army  newspapers. 

Said  data  liaving  been  received  just  when  the  Commission 
were  about  to  consider  this  matter,  acting  on  information 


344 


REPORT.  OF  COMMITTEE. 


which  had  been  obtained  on  the  Mexican  frontier,  and  when 
they  had  already  written  that  portion  of  the  report  relating  to 
the  States  of  Tamaulipas,  IS^uevo  Leon  and  Coalinila,  it  was 
with  positive  satisfaction  that  they  saw  their  opinion  i cor- 
roborated by  private  and  official  documents  published  in 
Texas.  There  the  press  has  made  efforts  to  misrepresent  the 
Indian  question,  and  now  it  comes  to  show  tlte  true  cause  of 
the  trouble,  and  to  acknowledge  the  justice  of  our  complaints. 
The  Commission  quote  tliese  opinions  because  they  are  the  re- 
searches of  Texans  themselves,  and  also  because  they  are 
vouched  for  by  the  best  authority,  that  of  the  United  States 
officers  of  the  army,  so  that  partiality  in  an  opinion  on  this 
question  cannot  be  attributed  to  the  Commissioners. 

They  have  always  been  fortunate  in  the  investigation 
of  the  different  points  aimed  at ; in  many  instances,  the 
best  information  and  very  best  proof  wherewith  to  throw  some 
light  upon  the  question,  were  procured  in  Texas,  as  if  this  State 
had  been  charged  indirectly  to  show  the  inculpability  of  the 
Mexican  frontier.  It  thus  occurred  with  a message  of  the 
Governor  of  Texas,  at  the  close  of  thelirst  part  of  this  report,* 
and  also  with  a report  of  the  grand  jury  of  Iverr  county,  in 
regard  to  the  discovery  of  a large,  party  of  American  citizens, 
who,  under  the  disguise  of  Indians,  have  been  perpetrating,  for 
the  last  five  years,  the  most  atrocious  crimes,  killing  defense- 
less persons  and  stealing  horses  and  cattle. 

These  scandalous  and  unprecedented  crimes  which  were 
committed  on  a very  lai*ge  area  of  the  territory  of  Texas,  have 
been  commented  upon  by  the  newspapers,  which,  when  pub- 
lishing some  of  the  depredations  actually  committed  by  the 
Indians,  have  expressed  doubts  as  to  whether  the  perpetrators 
of  the  crimes  were  Indians  or  not,  and  in  fact,  suspected  them 
to  be  dispei’sed  members  of  a band  of  outlaws,  who  concealed 
themselves  in  caves  along  the  banks  of  the  Guadalupe  river, 
where  they  took  refuge  for  a long  time.  This  discovery  was 
made  in  one  of  the  border  counties,  in  fact  the  very  one 
which  has  been  most  clamorous  against  Mexico,  through  state- 


* Cuadernos,  No.  8,  of  Vouchers,  fol.  8. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


345 


ments  which  they  often  caused  to  be  published,  relating  to  the 
injuries  caused  by  Kickapoos  acting  ■ in  conjunction  Avith 
Mexicans ; and  these  publications  are  very  important  as  relating 
to  all  questions  concerning  the  Comanches,  Ivickapoos,  and 
horse  and  cattle  thieves.  In  a word,  it  explains  in  a great 
measure  the  true  source  of  the  violation  of  Mexican  soil  by 
General  McKenzie,  at  the  head  of  some  Federal  troops,  in 
order  to  chastise  Indian  criminals. 

Even  this  has  not  been  sufficient  to  disabuse  the  Texan 
press,  for  a spirit  of  invasion  predominates  in  the  minds  of  a 
majority  of  Texans,  to  whom  a large  portion  of  Mexican  terri- 
tory would  be  an  easy  prey.  The  Commission  will,  in  the 
examination  of  these  invasions,  consider  the  fundamental  prin- 
ciple of  prejudice,  for  as  such  they  qualify  sentiments  of  those 
who  still  shelter  irrealizable  and  pernicioiAS  ideas  to  the  welfare 
of  both  frontiers,  tending  to  keep  them  in  perpetual  disorder, 
and  to  retard  progress  and  the  acquirement  of  Avealth.  In 
the  enumeration  of  the  depredations  committed  in  Texas,  the 
Commission  regret  not  being  able  to  present  so  clear  a state- 
ment as  that  which  they  were  able  to  make  in  regard  to  the 
frontier  settlements  of  Mexico.  Nevertheless  they  have  a 
complete  account,  coA'ering  several  years,  Avhich  Avill  enable 
them  to  make  some  comparisons,  and  by  this  means  give 
another  illustration  of  the  immensity  of  the  evils  Mexico  has 
had  to  suffer. 

Before  undertaking  this  task,  however,  the  Commission 
think  it  advisable,  in  order  to  be  fully  iinderstood,  to  point  out 
with  precision  the  ordinary  abiding  places  of  the  Indians,  both 
savage  and  independent  tribes,  and  also  those  Avho  live  on 
reservations  subject  to  the  government  at  Washington. 

The  savage  Indians  are  the  Comanches,  Cayugas,  Apaches, 
Arrapahoes  and  Cheyennes  ; they  neither  till  the  ground  nor 
live  in  towns,  but  dedicate  their  lives  to  hunting  and  Stealing  ; 
these  constitute  Avhat  are  properly  called  Prairie  Indians,  Avho 
roam  OA^er  the  country  from  “false”  Wachita  to  Santa  Fe. 
Near  this  riv'er,  and  living  sometimes  in  United  States  territory 
and  at  others  on  Texan  soil,  the  Wacoes,  Whitchutas,  Takua- 


346 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


kaiioes,  Towyash,  Kerchies,  Caclocs  and  others  were  found. 
As  to  the  second  class  of  Indians,  those  who  lice  on  the  reser- 
vations, are  the  Cherokees,  Choctaws,  Chickasaws,  Creeks, 
Seminoles,  Florida  Indians,  Shawnees,  Pottawattomies,  Ivicka- 
poos,  Delawares  and  others,  who  inhabited  the  country  from 
the  xVrkansas  to  the  Red  river  in  the  acknowledged  limits  of 
Mexico. 

As  soon  as  these  Indians  were  transported  to  those  remote 
regions,  they  began  plundering.  In  Gregg's*  often  quoted 
work  we  read  the  following  passage : 

“Three  or  four  daj’s  after  this,  and  while  crossing  the  head 
branches  of  the  Osage  river,  we  experienced  a momentary 
alarm  ; conspicuously  elevated  upon  a rod  by  the  roadside, 
we  found  a paper  purporting  to  have  been  written  by  the  Kan- 
sas agent,  stating  that  a large  band  of  Pawnees  were  said  to  be 
lurking  in  the  vicinity.  The  first  excitement  over,  however,  the 
majority  of  said  party  came  to  the  conclusion  that  it  was  either  a 
hoax  of  some  of  the  company  who  had  gone  ahead,  or  else  it  was  a 
stratagem  of  the  Raros  (or  Kansas  Indians)  who,  as  well  as  the 
Osages,  prowl  about  the  prairies  and  steal  from  the  caravans 
whilst  on  the  route,  whenever  they  entertain  the  slightest  hope 
that  their  deeds  will  be  attributed  to  others.  They  seldom 
venture  farther.” 

It  is  not  only  true,  as  stated  in  the  above  quoted  paragraph, 
that  the  Kansas  Indians  alone  committed  robberies  in  the  hope 
that  their  evil  deeds  might  be  laid  to  others,  but  the  Shawnees, 
Delawares  and  Kickapoos  were  also  in  the  habit  of  leaving 
their  reservations,  and  going  to  the  prairies  to  hold  intercourse 
with  other  Indiaus.f 

“ Though  the  Shawnees,  Delawares  and  Kickapoos  are 
amongst  the  most  agricultural  of  the  northern  Indians,  yet  a 
few  of  these  spend  their  time  on  the  prairies  in  hunting,  and  in 
trading  'with  the  wild  tribes.  Whether  because  the  vicious 
inclinations  of  the  Indians  rendered  their  residence  in  the  States 
of  the  American  Union  dangerous  to  the  inhabitants,  with 


* Commerce  of  the  Prairies,  Vol.  1,  fol.  4. 
f Commerce  of  the  Prairies,  Vol.  2,  fol.  2’75. 


NORTHERX  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


347 


whom  it  was  difficult  to  make  them  live  in  peace,  or  whether 
to  prevent  the  anomaly  of  sovereign  nations,  as  the  Indians 
were  considered,  living  within  the  limits  .of  the  United  States, 
eighty  thousand  were  transported  to  the  Eed  river,  in  the 
acknowledged  limits  of  Mexico.” 

As  soon  as  the  Indians  were  removed  to  the  southwestern 
portion  of  the  counties  of  Mexico  and  the  United  States,  they 
commenced  the  depredations  alluded  to,  although  more  inclined 
to  the  craft  of  agriculture  than  other  tribes. 

Ever  since  then,  the  policy  of  the  government  has  been 
greatly  censured,  because  they  undertook  to  maintain  the 
Indians  in  peace  by  giving  tliem  money  in  the  shape  of  annui- 
ties, which  served  only  to  keeji  them  in  idleness  and  to  corrupt 
their  habits  without  giving  them  strength,  energy,  or  any  in- 
dustry by  which  to  live.  Since  then  the  contractors  or  govern- 
ment agents,  who  in  reality  deserve  the  name  of  harpies,  have 
acted  in  such  bad  faith  as  to  merit  the  following  criticism  upon 
their  conduct ; * 

“ It  is  one  of  the  calamities  incidental  to  the  state  of  igno- 
rance in  which  some  of  the  poor  Indians  remain,  that  their  inti- 
mate and,  indeed,  political  intercourse  with  the  more  civilized 
people  of  the  United  States  does  not  spare  them  from  being 
preyed  upon  by  these  unprincipled  harpies,  who  are  continu- 
ally prowling  about  their  reservations  ready  to  seize  every 
opportunity  of  deceiving  and  defrauding  tliem  out  of  their 
money  and  effects.  The  greatest  frauds  practiced  upon  the 
frontier  Indians  have  been  perpetrated  by  contractors  and 
government  agents.  The  character  of  these  impositions  may 
be  inferred  from  the  following  instance  as  it  is  told,  and 
very  generally  believed,  upon  the  southwestern  frontier : It 
had  been  pretty  well  known  that  some  of  those  who  had 
been  in  the  habit  of  contracting  to  furnish  with  subsistence 
several  of  the  southern  tribes  in  the  year  1838  seq.,  had 
been  imposing  most  grossly  upon  the  Indians  as  well  as  the 
government  in  the  way  of  short  rations  and  other  delinquencies, 
which  resulted  in  the  gain  of  a very  large  sum  to  the  parties 
concerned.  About  the  close  of  their  operations,  one  of  the  em- 
ployees, who  was  rather  more  cunning  than  the  principals, 
took  it  into  his  head,  on  account  of  some  ill  treatment  he  had 


* Ubi  supra,  vol.  2,  p.  262. 


34:8 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


suffered,  to  make  an  expose  of  their  transactions.  He  hap- 
pened" to  hold  a letter  of  instructions  (which  were  of  course 
of  a confidential  character),  wherein  were  set  forth  the  pro- 
cesses by  wliich  these  frauds  were  to  be  practiced.  And  to 
turn  the  affair  to  his  particular  profit,  he  threatened  the  parties 
with  a complete  exposure  unless  a satisfactory  gratification 
should  interpose.  A compromise  being  indispensable  to  the 
welfare  of  all  whom  it  concerned,  a negotiation  was  soon  set 
on  foot,  but  the  ‘ noisy  customer  ’ was  not  silenced  until  he 
was  paid  $13,000  casli,  whereupon  he  delivered  up  the  obnoxi- 
ous papers  and  agreed  to  abscond.  Some  notice  of  the  facts 
of  this  case  are  said  to  have  been  brought  to  the  notice  of  the 
government,  and  how  it  lias  escaped  an  investigation,  and 
more  especially  how  it  escaped  the  attention  of  the  superintend- 
ent of  that  immediate  district,  have  been  matters  of  great  sur- 
prise to  those  who  had  a knowledge  of  the  particulars.” 

AVhen  we  see  immorality  practiced  on  such  a large  scale  by 
the  very  commissioners  and  agents  appointed  to  take  care  of 
the  Indians,  and  we  find  these  subject  to  such  misery  and 
suffering,  we  can  hardly  consider  it  strange  that  they  should 
hunt  on  the  prairies,  and,  associating  with  the  Comanches,  yield 
to  their  natural  propensities,  and  participate  in  the  depreda- 
tions committed  by  the  latter  on  the  Mexican  settlements. 
The  history  of  the  I’eservation  Indians  will  show  that  this 
opinion  is  well  founded. 

We  must  bear  in  mind  that,  on  the  other  hand,  those  men 
who  at  the  same  time  were  robbing  the  Indians  were  specu- 
lating with  the  government  of  their  own  country,  and  that  their 
acts  of  criminality  were  never  punished,  notwithstanding  that 
these  were  notorious ; they  could  have  no  scruple  whatever 
after  the  United  States  reduced  the  annuities  to  the  Indians  to 
make  up  for  the  profits  they  could  no  longer  realize  by  trading 
with  property  plundered  by  Indians- from  Mexico. 

Such  conduct  on  the  part  of  the  United  States,  which  at  first 
passed  unnoticed,  makes  their  responsibility  all  the  greater, 
and  this  is  not  only  the  opinion  of  the  Commission,  but  of  the 
very  agents  and  citizens  of  the  United  States  who,  victims  of 
this  tortuous  policy,  adopted  ever  since  1831  and  continued 
up  to  late  years,  when  a remarkable  change  has  occurred,  have 
repeatedly  asserted  these  facts. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


349 


The  ComniissioB  will  in  the  first  place  cite  the  Texan  news- 
papers, organs  and  interpreters  of  public  opinion  in  that  State, 
and  afterwards  proceed  to  give  the  result  of  tl>eir  own  investi- 
gation. By  following  this  plan,  the  credibility,  good  faith  and 
honesty  of  the  witnesses  who  have  given  their  depositions  can 
be  the  better  appreciated,  and  will  be  better  understood  by 
bearinof  in  mind  that  the  Commission  had  alreadv  ended  their 

c5  t/ 

investigations  and  written  the  greater  portion  of  this  report 
before  they  received  the  data  referring  to  the  injuries  caused 
by  the  Indians  in  Texas,  which,  as  has  already  been  stated,  have 
confirmed  and  strengthened  their  opinions. 

One  of  the  most  reliable  periodicals  of  Texas,  The  Herald^ 
by  request  of  the  Commission,  furnished  the  Mexican  consul  at 
San  Antonia  Avith  a literal  copy  of  the  articles  taken  from  the 
files  in  the  office,  and  certified  to  by  the  editor,  relating  to  all 
the  facts  which  had  been  published  concerning  the  Indians. 
The  source  is  unimpeachable.  By  this  means  the  Commission 
is  enabled  to  follow  the  incursions  of  the  Indians,  step  by  step, 
from  1857,  from  which  year  these  data  were  collected,  although 
for  the  purposes  of  the  Commission  the  data  of  any  would 
have  sufficed.  The  facts  are  as  follows: 

On  the  4th  of  August,  1857,  some  troops  from  Fort  Mason 
pursued  a party  of  sixty  Indians  as  far  as  “Devil  river”  (alias 
San  Pedro),  Avhere  they  attacked  them,  killing  ten  Indians  and 
losing  only  two  soldiers.* 

Prior  to  said  date,  on  the  27th  of  July,  1857,  the  second 
lieutenant  of  the  2d  cavalry,  stationed  at  Fort  Clark,  reported 
a fight  Avith  the  Indians.  They  AA'ere  at  first  supposed  to  be 
Tancahues,  aa'Iio,  judging  from  information  received  from  Fort 
Mason,  Avere  coming  for  their  families,  but  it  was  soon  diseoA"^- 
ered  that  they  belonged  to  another  tribe.  FTine  Indians 
were  killed,  with  a loss  of  two  soldiers,  and  as  the  tribe 
dispersed  and  the  force  Avas  not  considered  sufficient,  further 
pursuit  was  abandoned,  f 

Mr.  Brackett,  captain  of  cavalry  at  Fort  McIntosh,  sent  a 


* Cuaderno,  No.  7 of  Vouchers,  fol.  1. 
f Cuaderno,  No.  7 of  Vouchers,  fol.  2. 


350 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


squad  of  cavaliy,  bj  M-ay  of  Laredo,  in  pursuit  of  a party  of 
Indians  who  had  approached  that  camp  and  stolen  some  horses 
from  the  town.  The  Indians,  who  were  thought  to  be  Coman- 
ches  or  Lipans,  abandoned  in  their  flight  twelv'e  animals  to 
the  troops.  * * * § 

On  the  same  spot,  a skirmish  occurred  on  the  3d  of  Novem- 
ber, between  the  soldiers  and  a party  of  Indians,  in  which  the 
latter  lost  their  horses  and  equipage.f 

About  a month  before,  on  the  16th  of  October,  in  the  same 
year,  some  troops  belonging  to  the  2d  cavalry,  under  command 
of  the  second  lieutenant,  left  the  fort  in  pursuit  of  a band  of 
Indians  who  had  murdered  two  men  ; the  Indians  made  their 
escape  on  foot,  but  all  their  horses  and  clothes  were  captured.:}; 

About  the  same  time,  the  25th  November,  § the  Herald 
published  some  letters  received  from  the  town  of  Santa  Nosa- 
lia.  State  of  Chihuahua,  referring  to  the  invasion  of  some  four 
hundred  Indians,  who  had  encamped  in  front  of  the  town, 
stolen  horses  to  the  value  of  five  thousand  dollars,  and  killed 
a great  many  cows.  The  Indians  returned  to  the  United  States 
by  the  same  route  they  had  come,  crossing  the  line  at  a point 
a short  distance  above  San  Carlos  and  by  way  of  Fort  Lancas- 
ter, from  which  place  they  had  stolen  twenty-five  bushels  of 
corn  on  their  way  into  Chihuahua. 

Governor  Runnels,  finding  the  frontier  line  of  northeastern 
Texas  entirely  exposed,  ||  applied  to  General  Twiggs,  in  com- 
mand of  the  department,  for  some  regular  troops,  stating  that 
in  that  district  the  Indians  had  killed  one  white  and  one  colored 
man,  and  wounded  a boy,  besides  stealing  property  to  a large 
amount ; and  as  about  one-half  of  one  of  the  three  companies 
which  the  State  had  organized  to  protect  that  line,  was  the 
only  available  force,  and  by  no  means  sufficient  for  the  emer- 
gency, aid  was  earnestly  requested. 


* Cuaclerno,  Ifo.  7 of  Vouchers,  fol.  5. 

f Vouchers,  Cuaderno,  No.  7,  fol.  6. 

t Vouchers,  Cuaderno,  No.  7,  fol.  7. 

§ Vouchers,  Cuaderno,  No.  7,  fol.  9. 

II  Vouchers,  Cuaderno,  No.  7,  fol.  10. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


351 


This  occurred  on  the  11th  of  January,  and  the  day  before 
the  under  the  head  of  “Protection  to  the  Frontier,” 

said  : * * * § 

“ An  intelligent  person  of  Waco  informs  the  commander  of 
the  department  of  the  depredations  committed  by  the  Indians 
^ear  Camp  Colorado,  where  they  have  assassinated  two  of  the 
inhabitants  and  stolen  a great  many  horses.  The  xoriter  states 
as  his  opinion  that  the  Indians  in  these  depredations  icere  led, 
or  instigated,  hg  the  JIormonsT  t 

At  the  time  of  these  occurrences,  and  whilst  the  facts  and 
opinions  were  being  published  in  Texas,  the  press  there  were  in 
receipt  of  information  from  Laredo,  Texas,  that  in  the  interior 
of  Mexico  some  of  the  northern  tribes,  very  likely  the  Coman- 
ches,  had  destroyed  a wagon  train  and  killed  three  teamsters, 
adding  that  the  Indians,  thirty  in  number,  were  armed  with 
rifles.:}; 

From  a research  made  by  the  San  Antonio  Herald,  on  the 
2d  of  February  of  said  year  1858,  it  appears  that  in  the  depart- 
ment of  Texas  § during  the  two  previous  years  the  troops  had 
had  sixteen  engagements  with  the  Indians.  In  these,  twenty- 
six  Indians  had  been  killed,  twenty-three  wounded,  and  six 
taken  prisoners,  besides  the  losses  sustained  by  the  Indians  in 
almost  every  engagement  by  the  capture  of  their  horses. 
Most  of  these  combats  had  been  fought  on  the  banks  of  the 
Colorado,  Brazos,  and  Concho  rivers,  and  in  one  of  the  combats 
that  occurred  on  the  banks  of  the  Eio  Grande  the  Indians,  said 
to  be  Comanches,  were  pursued  on  the  right  bank.  In  another 
combat,  which  took  place  under  command  of  Lieutenant  Hood, 
on  the  San  Pedro  river,  the  Indians  were  of  the  Comanche  and 
Lipan  tribes. 

Several  bands  of  Indians  were  seen  at  Medina.  ||  From 
this  place  the  Herald  received  letters  which  brought  informa- 
tion that  persons  who  had  accompanied  the  troops  in  the  pur- 


* Vouchers,  Cuaderno,  No.  7,  fol.  11. 

f Repetition  of  quotation, 

t Cuaderno,  No.  7,  p.  11. 

§ Cuaderno,  No.  7,  p.  11  to  16. 

I Vouchers,  Cuaderno,  No.  7,  pp.  16-18. 


352 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


suit  of  the  Indians  as  far  as  the  mountains,  stated  that  a squaw 
before  dying,  had  declared  that  her qyarty  belonged  to  the  reser- 
vation, and  that  several  other  bands  had  left  there  without  the 
knowledge  of  Major  Xeighbor,  the  Indian  agent. 

In  another  publication  dated  February  IT,  1858,*  it  was 
said  that  the  duty  of  the  companies  organized  by  order  of  the» 
State  legislature  was  to  operate  against  the  Indians  at  once, 
without  waiting  to  chastise  them  for  robberies  committed,  and 
thus  avoid  a useless  excursion  which  would  not  remedy  the 
evil.  It  was  also  said  that  General  Twiggs  was  powerless,  and 
that  the  time  had  arrived  for  the  Federal  government  to  take 
into  their  own  hands  the  defense  of  the  country.  By  timel}’’ 
help,  the  Indians  would  be  repulsed  as  far  as  the  reservation, 
and  the  atrocities  and  depredations  committed  on  the  frontier 
and  the  suffering  endured  by  the  inhabitants  would  immediately 
cease. 

The  special  agent  of  the  Comanches  wrote  the  same  day 
that  he  had  captured  two  Comanches  and  two  Mexicans  who 
had  stolen  from  the  reservations  and  in  Texas ; that  as  the 
Mexicans  had  fled,  he  had  caused  the  two  Comanclies  to  be 
tried  b}’  a court  composed  of  their  chiefs ; that  having  been 
sentenced  to  death,  they  were  examined  and  revealed  the  fact 
that  several  bands  of  Comanches,  Kickapoos  and  Caiguas,  com- 
manded by  Shanico’s  son,  were  the  perpetrators  of  the  rob- 
beries, and  that  Kickapoos  and  Comanches  lived  together  to- 
wards the  north  of  Red  river.  Mr.  Ross,  the  agent,  concluded 
by  promising  that  he  would  soon  go  and  examine  personally 
the  camp  of  the  Indians.f 

On  the  llth  of  Aju’il,  the  Indians  appeared  near  Laredo, 
and  on  the  20th,  between  camp  Hudson  and  Fort  Clark,  where 
they  wounded  two  men  on  San  Pedro  river,  who  stated  that 
the  Indians  were  armed  with  rifles  and  belonged  to  the 
Comanche  tribe.  Another  party  of  Indians  followed,  within 
view,  a train  of  wagons  as  far  as  Puerco  river  in  order  to  at- 
tack it  at  their  convenience  ; and  that  Mr.  Rome,  by  whom 


* Vouchers,  Cuaderuo,  No.  1,  pp.  18,  19. 
f Vouchers,  Cuaderuo,  No.  7,  pp.  21,  22. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


353 


the  report  was  made,  observed  that  the  road  to  El  Paso  was 
strewn  with  Indians  who  apparently  were  bolder  and  more 
hostile  than  ever  before.* 

On  the  same  day,  two  parties  of  soldiers  left  Fort  IMcIn- 
tosh  in  pursuit  of  a party  of  Indians  who  were  driving  some 
horses  in  the  direction  of  Xueces  river.f 

On  the  2Ith  of  August,  four  men,  two  Americans  and  two 
Mexicans,  were  assassinated  near  El  Paso,  seventy-five  miles 
below  Fort  Davis,  by  a party  of  Comanches  coming  apparently 
from  Mexico,  as  they  were  driving  a large  herd  of  horses. :{; 

According  to  news  received  from  northern  Texas,  which 
was  published  on  the  28th  of  said  month,  the  Comanebes  were 
then  on  the  Arkansas  river  on  the  agency  of  the  Osages,  mak- 
ing their  preparations  to  fall  on  the  frontier  of  Texas.  § 

The  assassination  of  several  families  and  the  robbery  of 
cattle  at  Denton  and  Clear  Creek,  perpetrated  in  September, 
caused  a great  deal  of  excitement,  and  the  neighboring  towns 
commenced  to  arm  themselves.  || 

During  the  early  part  of  October,  footprints  were  noticed 
on  the  banks  of  Devil  river,  and  on  the  12th  of  the  same 
month,  the  Gazette  of  Austin  said  that,  on  account  of  the 
complicity  of  the  renegade  Kickapoos  and  Kichees  with  the 
Comanches,  who  showed  themselves  very  hostile,  one  hundred 
men  were  to  be  armed,  by  order  of  the  governor,  to  recover 
the  stolen  property  wherever  it  could  be  found. •[ 

In  the  month  of  October,  AVise  county  was  invaded  by  In- 
dians, believed  to  be  Kickapoos,  and  three  of  the  inhabitants 
of  the  county  were  killed.** 

On  the  22d  of  October,  a long  article  was  published  in  the 
Herald, W showing  the  state  of  alarm  in  which  the  people  of 
Texas  lived,  because  the  Comanches  and  AVichitas,  their 
enemies,  were  ferocious  and  blood-thirsty  savages,  and  power- 
ful enough,  on  account  of  their  large  numbei’,  to  destroy  any 
town  they  might  choose  to  attack.  The  frontier,  it  was  said, 

* Vouchers,  Cuaderno,  No.  7,  p.  23.  t Ibid.  24. 

t Vouchers,  Cuaderno,  No.  7,  p.  26.  § Ibid.  27. 

II  Vouchers,  Cuaderno,  No.  7,  p.  27.  Ibid.  pp.  28,  29. 

**  Ibid.  p.  30.  ft  Vouchers,  Cuaderno,  No.  7,  pp.  30  and  31. 

23 


354 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


was  exposed  to  all  the  horrors  of  rapine  and  murder  for  many 
miles  along  the  line,  because  the  government  troops  could  only 
give  protection  to  those  who  were  within  reach  of  the  post 
parapets  ; besides  the  troops  were  few  in  number,  and  not 
competent  to  maintain  the  kind  of  warfare  necessary  to  subdue 
the  savages  who  defied  them,  and  fearlessly  crossed  the  lines 
of  the  camps,  and  penetrated  into  the  ccnti-al  part  of  the 
State.  As  a proof  of  this,  it  was  said  that,  a month  before, 
eight  of  the  most  influential  citizens  of  Brownsville  had  been 
murdei’ed,  and  by  letters  from  that  city  it  was  known,  that 
from  Fort  Duncan  to  Ringgold  Barracks,  a distance  of  over 
three  lumdred  miles,  there  was  not  a single  soldier  to  be  seen.* 
Such  a state  of  atfairs  looked  somewhat  like  criminal  in- 
difference on  the  part  of  the  authorities  at  Washington,  who 
bad  promised  to  send  troops  to  check  the  Indians.  It  was 
added  that  all  the  Indians  were  well  armed  with  bows  and 
arrows,  lances,  axes  and  rifles,  and  it  was  recollected  that  a 
very  short  time  previous  an  x\merican  by  the  name  of  Cliism,f 
a trader,  had  sold  to  the  Indians  seventy-five  boxes  of  arms 
and  ammunition,  on  agreement  that  they  should  go  to  Texas  and 
steal  horses  and  whatever  other  property  they  could,  which 
would  be  paid  for  with  arms  and  provisions,  thus  establishing 
a regular  trade  of  stolen  goods. 

The  governor  of  Texas  reported  to  the  commander  of  the 
department  the  depredations  committed  in  Brown  county  by 
twenty  Indians,  who  had  killed  four  men  and  taken  two  cap- 
tives. ± 

The  assassinations  just  referred  to  caused  great  alarm  at 
Lampazos  and  its  vicinity.  The  letters  were  unanimous  in 
saying  that  the  Indians  were  on  the  war  path  tlironghout  the 
country,  obliging  the  families  to  abandon  their  houses,  cattle 
and  all  other  property.  It  was  said,  however,  that  the  Indians, 
authors  of  these  assassinations,  had  been  punished,  and  this 


* “ Surely  this  is  all  wrong,  and  shows  something  like  criminal  neglect  on 
the  part  of  the  authorities  at  Washington.” 

f Vouchers,  Cuaderno,  No.  7,  p.  31.  t Vouchers,  Cuaderno,  No.  7,  p.  32. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


355 


was  proved  bj  the  property  rescued  from  them,  which  had 
belonged  to  tlie  persons  they  had  killed.  * 

About  the  end  of  December,  three  bands  of  Indians  overran 
the  vicinity  of  Bandera,  and  retreated  after  having  stolen  some 
horses  ; they  were  pursued  by  troops  ordered  to  the  rescue  by 
General  Twiggs.  The  opinion  then  was  that  the  Indians  were 
more  bent  on  robbery  than  on  anything  else,  f 

The  Commission  will  now  bring  to  an  end  these  extracts 
of  the  depredations  committed  by  Indians  in  the  State  of  Texas 
during  the  years  1857  and  1858.  It  may  readily  be  observed 
that  whilst  in  Texas  the  Indians  committed  twenty-two  assassin- 
ations, wounded  five  persons  and  captured  two  others  ; in  the 
State  of  Nuevo  Leon  they  killed  forty-five  persons,  wounded 
twenty-six  and  captured  thirteen  during  1857  alone,  and  in 
1858  they  killed  eighteen  and  wounded  four  persons,  forming  a 
total  of  sixty-three  killed,  thirty  wounded  and  thirteen  captured, 
i.  e.  four  times  as  many  persons  sacrificed  as  in  the  State 
of  Texas. . 

It  will  also  be  observed  at  a glance,  that  the  operations  of 
the  Indians  in  Texas  and  on  the  frontier  States  of  Mexico, 
were  all  based  on  the  thorough  knowledge  which  they  possessed 
of  the  respective  situations  of  these  States,  and  also  of  the  indif- 
ference of  the  Texans  in  regard  to  the  depredations  perpetrated 
in  Mexico.  For  this  reason,  whenever  they  stole  horses  in 
Texas,  near  the  places  where  they  lived,  they  took  good  care 
to  drive  them  in  small  lots,  so  as  to  facilitate  their  own  flight, 
whilst  the  reverse  was  the  case  whenever  the  robbery  was  com- 
mitted in  Mexico,  for  although  in  the  towns  of  the  interior 
they  proceeded  in  like  manner,  yet,  whenever  they  came  near  the 
Texan  line  they  always  formed  in  one  body,  and  did  not  mind 
passing  in  view  of  the  military  camps  posted  on  that  line. 

The  spirit  of  the  public  press  during  all  these  years  tends  to 
show  that  the  injuiies  caused  by  the  Indians  were  attributed 
partly  to  those  living  outside  of  said  reservations,  because  the 
line  was  uninhabited ; there  were  very  few  soldiers,  and  the 


* Vouchers,  Cu&derno,  No.  Y,  p.  33. 
f Vouchers,  Cuaderno,  No.  7,  p.  89. 


356 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


military  posts  were  easily  avoided.  Such  conduct  on  the  part 
of  the  government  was  censured,  qualified  as  had  and  criminal, 
and  the  government  was  urged  to  furnish  sufiicient  troops  to 
repress  the  Indians. 

This  same  view  was  expressed  by  the  Commission  when 
they  endeavored  to  explain  the  cause  of  the  horrible  depreda- 
tions committed  by  the  Indians  from  the  very  commencement 
of  the  trouble.  The  sorties  of  the  Indians  from  their  reserva- 
tions, as  was  ascertained  by  a squaw  and  confirmed  by  the 
report  of  the  official  agent  of  the  Indians ; the  concentration  of 
the  Comanches  in  places  inhabited  by  the  “ Osages  ” (trans- 
ported in  1831),  in  order  to  concert  their  attacks  upon  Texas 
and  other  States ; the  connivance  of  the  Comanches,  Kickapoos, 
Wichitas  and  Juyes  in  the  depredations  committed  upon  the 
settlements  ; the  participation  of  the  Mormons,  they  being  not 
unfrequently  accused  of  sometimes  instigating  and  at  others 
leading  the  Indians  on  to  warfare,  as  was  discovered  in  the  case 
of  Chism,  an  American  trader,  who  furnished  arms, and  ammu- 
nition to  the  Indians;  and  the  very  remark  that  the  Indians 
were  more  inclined  to  robbery  (which  requires  abettors)  than 
to  any  other  crime ; all  this  now  published  in  the  face  of  Texas 
is  only  a repetition  of  what  occurred  in  1835,  with  the  only 
diflTerence  that  they  who  fell  victims  to  tliose  depredations, 
i.e.,  since  1836,  were  Mexicans  exclusively,  but  from  1836  to 
the  present,  the  Texans  have  likewise  suffered,  although  on 
a far  minor  scale,  as  is  shown  by  the  comparison  drawn  before. 

This  result,  as  has  been  before  said,  is  the  effect  of  the  gen- 
eral cause  of  trouble  on  the  banks  of  the  Arkansas  river,  in 
1831,  when  the  northeastern  Indians  were  put  in  intercourse 
with  those  of  the  southwest,  and  also  by  the  encouragement 
given  their  natural  propensity  for  stealing,  by  American  citi- 
zens who  bought  from  the  Indians  the  spoils  which  they 
brought  from  their  incursions  into  Mexico,  until  the  live  stock 
being  exhausted  in  that  country,  they  were  forced  to  extend 
their  raids  into  Texas,  where  everything  fell  easy  prey  to  their 
rapacity. 

Even  without  the  acknowledgment  made  by  Texans  in  late 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


357 


jears,  it  was  generally  surmised  that  it  was  their  own  fellow- 
citizens  who  either  led  or  incited  the  Indians  to  plunder,  and  it 
is  easy  to  trace  this  fact,  that  whether  by  Mormons,  or  Indians 
from  the  reservations,  who  were  in  constant  business  relations 
with  American  citizens,  the  Indians  were  incited  and  even  led 
at  different  times  by  such  persons.  The  simple  fact  that  these 
tribes  have  had  no  other  occupation  for  more  than  half  a cen- 
tury, during  which  time  they  have  carried  away  from  Mexico 
an  immense  number  of  horses  which  they  could  not  employ, 
not  having  any  need  for  them,  is  of  itself  a proof  that  they 
disposed  of  them,  either  to  the  Indians  on  the  reservations,  with 
whom  they  were  in  daily  communication,  and  through  them  to 
Americans,  or  to  the  latter  directly.  Nevertheless,  it  is  a great 
step  in  relation  to  this  criminal  traffic,  that  the  discovery  has 
been  made  that  all  the  depredations  committed  by  Indians, 
iiave  been  by  those  living  in  a savage  condition,  and  by  those 
supported  by  the  government  on  permanent  establishments. 

The  Commission  might  here  close  this  report,  considering 
their  opinion  as  to  the  origin,  progress  and  actual  condition  of 
the  Indian  depredations  to  be  well  grounded,  and  established 
by  the  extracts  heretofore  set  forth;  but  as  such  persistent 
efforts  have  been  made  of  late  to  impute  all  the  depredations 
committed  in  Texas  to  a part  of  the  Kickapoos,  now  living  in 
Mexico,  they  deem  it  advisable  to  give  further  details  of  the 
depredations  committed  before  the  settlement  of  these  Indians 
in  Mexico,  noting  the  remarks  then  made  whilst,  pending  the 
hostilities,  the  case  was  likely  to  be  better  appreciated  and  un- 
derstood. 

In  February,  1859,  some  soldiers  from  Fort  Quitman,*  situ- 
ated between  El  Paso  and  Presidio  del  Norte,  had  a rencontre 
with  the  Mescaleros,  who  fled  to  the  mountains  of  Chihuahua, 
in  Mexico.  In  the  same  month  the  troops  from  Fort  Inge,  in 
TJvalde  county,  in  conjunction  with  some  citizens,  pursued  a 
party  of  Indians  and  recovered  nearly  all  their  horses.  The 
depredations  in  Uvalde  f continued,  and  it  was  thought  that 


* Vouchers,  Cuaderno,  No.  Y,  pp.  35  and  36. 
f Vouchers,  Cuaderno,  No.  Y,  pp.  36  and  3Y. 


358 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


they  had  been  committed  by  the  same  Indians,  who  bad  been 
beaten,  reinforced  by  otliers. 

Tbrougb  letters  from  El  Paso  and  Fan  Elizario,  it  was  dis- 
covered that  on  the  7tb  of  February,  there  bad  been  another 
rencontre  with  the  Mescaleros,  in  the  Canon  del  “ Peno  ” ; * 
some  heads  of  neat  cattle  and  a few  horses  had  been  stolen 
from  San  Elizario ; a posse  of  residents  and  troops  pursued  the 
Indians,  hilled  from  twenty  to  thirtj^,  and  wounded  quite  a 
number.f  In  the  same  month  some  Indians  were  seen  near 
“ Pedernales ” and  “Bandera,”  with  the  apparent  intention  of 
stealing.;}; 

The  Herald  published,  on  the  24:th  of  March,  an  account 
given  by  two  Coinanches,  taken  prisoners  in  the  combat  near 
Fort  Arbuckle,  in  October,  1858.  Amongst  other  things,  it 
was  said  that  all  the  Indians  were  ready  fcr  war  with  the 
whites;  that  they  had  over  four  hundred  Mexican  captives, 
men,  women  and  children,  and  two  white  men  in  the  Comanche 
country ; that  they  got  their  arms  and  ammunition  from  other 
Indians  who  received  such  from  the  Americans;  that  a few  Co- 
manches  went  to  the  vicinity  of  Bent’s  Fort,  and  procured  arms 
and  ammunition  from  the  agent ; that  the  Indians  go  at  pleasure 
to  Mexico,  across  the  Rio  Grande,  and  are  not  afraid  of  the 
Americans  on  the  other  side  of  that  river.§ 

After  this,  the  troops  had  several  engagements  with  the 
Comanches  ||  near  Fort  Arbuckle,  and  they  pursued  them  act- 
ively for  several  murders  committed  by  them,  and  for  the  cap- 
ture of  two  young  girls  above  Boston.  On  the  following  day, 
they  were  overtaken  and  the  captives  rescued ; one,  a girl  of 
about  twelve  years  of  age,  said  that  the  Indians  spoke  English.^ 

The  citizens  of  Young  county  **  had  a meeting  in  April, 
with  a view  to  petitioning  the  Federal  Government  to  remove 
the  Indians  from  the  reservations,  and  in  case  of  the  demand 


* Vouchers,  Cuaderno,  p.  39.  f Vouchers,  Cuaderno,  pp.  38  and  40. 

t Vouchers,  Cuaderno,  p.  39.  § Vouchers,  Cuaderno,  No.  7,  pp.  41  and  42. 

II  Vouchers,  Cuaderno,  No.  7,  p.  45. 

^ The  little  girl  says  that  the  Indians  spoke  English. 

**  Vouchers,  Cuaderno,  No.  7,  pp.  45  and  46. 


NORTHERN  FROXTIER  QUESTIOX. 


359 


not  beino-  granted,  to  join  with  the  neighboring  counties  and 
force  compliance  with  tlieir  desires. 

The  following  was  written  from  Fredericksburg,  in  the 
month  of  April : * 

‘‘  It  is  certain  that  the  Indians  are  aware  of  the  movement 
of  the  troo|)S,  and  if  care  is  not  taken  to  guard  the  passes  from 
Concho,  Kickapoo,  San  Saba  and  Llano,  they  will  be  able,  with- 
out much  difficulty,  to  open  war  on  the  frontier,  having  an  open 
field  from  the  Colorado  river  to  the  Guadalupe.” 

On  another  occasion  in  Fredericksburg  and  Kerr,  f there 
was  another  incursion  of  Indians,  and  robberies  were  committed 
which  caused  the  greatest  anxiety  to  the  inhabitants. 

In  the  following  month.  May,  1859,  j;  about  seven  hundred 
Indians,  of  various  tribes,  attacked  a body  of  troops  in  Colo- 
rado. § Meantime,  the  Indians  from  the  southern  reservations 
had  abandoned  their  fields,  encamped  in  the  grounds  of  their 
agent,  Mr.  Ross,  and  declared  a war  opened,  the  results  of 
which  were  greatly  to  be  feared. 

At  the  very  time  that  a man  was  killed  in  “ Frio,”  ||  and 
that  animals  were  being  stolen  and  wrested  from  the  Indians, 
news  came  that  Yan  Doren  had  obtained  a recent  victory  over 
the  very  Comanches  whom  he  had  routed  in  October  of  the 
preceding  year. 

From  a report  made  by  Lieutenant  Ilazen,  of  the  infantry, 
it  became  known  that  the  Indians  were  encamped  near  Uvalde 
and  its  vicinity.  They  were  in  possession  of  papers  signed  by 
persons  purporting  to  be  officers  of  the  army,  and  were  guar- 
anties of  good  conduct,  &c.,  &c.  It  was  thought  that  if  the 
papers  had  really  been  given  to  those  in  whose  possession  they 
were  found,  it  would  be  dangerous  for  such  papers  to  fall  into 
the  hands  of  others.  It  was  also  inferred  from  the  papers,  the 
antiquity  of  which  was  remarkable,  that  the  bearers  were 
Kickapoos. 


* Vouchers,  Cuaderno,  No.  7,  p.  47.  f Vouchers,  Cuaderno,  No.  7,  p.  48. 

t Vouchers,  Cuaderno,  No.  7,  p.  60.  § Vouchers,  Cuaderno,  No.  7,  p.  50. 

II  Vouchers,  Cuaderno,  No.  7,  p.  51. 

Tf  Vouchers,  Cuaderno,  No.  7,  pp.  52  and  63. 


360 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


In  June,* * * §  they  committed  robbery  and  a murder  in  the 
county  of  “ Llano ; ” and  shortly  before  they  repulsed  Baylor, 
an  officer,  Tvho  attacked  them  at  the  head  of  over  one  hundred 
men,  on  the  reservations  of  the  agency  at  Brazos. 

According  to  letters  from  San  Elizario,  published  in  the 
Herald  t of  June  9th,  two  hundred  Indians  had  passed  by 
Camp  Stockton  with  a number  of  horses,  bound  north,  evi- 
dently on  their  return  from  Mexico,  from  whence  the  horses 
had  been  stolen.:}: 

Daring  the  months  of  June  and  July,  the  counties  of 
‘‘Blanco  ” and  “ Frio  ”§  were  invaded  by  small  bands  of  In- 
dians; on  one  of  these  occasions,  the  stolen  property  was  all 
recovered,  and  one  Indian  killed. 

In  August,  the  counties  of  “ Mason  ” and  “ Bandera  ” were 
invaded;  and  in  the  following  month,  those  of  “Kerr”  and 
“ Blanco  ; ” the  damages  consisted  of  the  killing  of  cattle  and 
the  stealing  of  horses  in  small  lots.|| 

In  September,  they  appeared  in  “ "Webb  ” county,  and 
killed  a Mexican  boy  near  Palafox ; about  the  same  time,  in 
the  county  of  “ Maverick,”  not  far  from  “ Eagle  Pass,”  at  a 
place  called  “ Pendencia,”  they  committed  the  most  horrible 
atrocities  on  a family  residing  there.^^  They  were  pursued  by 
a party  of  Americans  from  “ Eagle  Pass,”  but  were  not  over- 
taken ; and  believing  that  they  had  crossed  into  Mexico,  the 
authorities  of  Piedras  Kegras  gave  a written  permit  to  the 
commandant  to  pursue  them,  in  case  of  necessity,  to  their  own 
territory,  and  otherwise  lending  aid  to  the  pursuers  with  a re- 
inforcement of  seven  men.  ** 


* Vouchers,  Cuaderno,  No.  7,  p.  54. 

f Vouchers,  Cuaderno,  No.  7,  pp.  54  and  55. 

t “ These  Indians  were,  no  doubt,  just  from  Mexico,  where  they  had  stolen  the 
horses  they  had  with  them. 

§ Vouchers,  Cuaderno,  No.  7,  pp.  55  and  56. 

II  Vouchers,  Cuaderno,  No.  7,  pp.  57,  58  and  59. 

Vouchers,  Cuaderno,  No.  7,  pp.  60  to  65.  , 

**  “ Captain  Stone  started  soon  in  pursuit.  Seven  of  the  company  were  from 
Mexico.  The  merchants  in  Eagle  Pass  threw  open  their  stores,  and  generally  told 
the  volunteers  to  help  themselves  to  supplies.  Captain  Stone  obtained  a written 
permit  from  the  Mexican  commandant  to  go  into  Mexico  in  pursuit  of  the  Indians, 
if  necessary.” 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


361 


During  the  months  of  September  and  October,*  the  coun- 
ties of  “ Webb”  and  “ Frio”  were  invaded,  and  on  the  5th  of 
October  the  Herald  published  ’accounts  received  from  San 
Saba,  through  a Mexican  captive  who  had  made  his  escape 
from  Comanche  county,  and  who  stated  that  he  had  been 
captured  in  Santa  Clara,  Durango,  by  the  Comanches,  who 
took  him  north  and  put  him  to  take  care  of  horses,  in  connec- 
tion with  other  Mexicans,  who  were  retained  as  servants  to  the 
Indians. 

He  further  stated,  that  after  the  battle  with  Yan  Doren, 
the  Indians  f retreated  towards  the  northwest,  making  short 
marches  and  hunting  buffalo  in  order  to  maintain  themselves 
on  the  journey.  They  did  not  encamp  until  they  arrived  at  a 
large  camp  of  white  people ; the  place  was  situated  on  the 
banks  of  a wide  river,  near  a grove  of  tall  pine  trees  and  high 
mountains ; that  at  that  place  the  lu'dians  received  liquors, 
clothing,  sugar,  blankets,  and  they  were  promised  that  Yan 
Doren  and  the  Texans  should  not  fight  against  them,  and  that 
they  should  encamp  at  two  days’  journey  farther  on.  He  also 
stated  that  the  white  men  furnished  the  Indians  with  guns, 
clothing  and  ammunition  in  exchange  for  horses,  and  that  carts 
were  constantly  being  removed  laden  with  various  articles  ; 
that  the  Indians  were  united  for  war,  and  that  this  was  the  first 
time  they  had  taken  him  towards  the  South  to  rob  ; that  after 
the  Indians  left  the  establishment  of  the  white  men,  where  they 
had  procured  all  they  desired,  they  marched  for  a wdiole  moon 
together,'and  afterwards  separated  into  small  bands,  the  one 
with  whom  he  traveled  being  composed  of  six  Indians. 

On  account  of  the  frequent  incursions  of  the  Indians  near 
Castroville  during  the  month  of  October, j;  troops  left  Fort  Inge 
in  pursuit  of  the  savages,  whom  they  overtook  between  Fort 
Terret  and  Fort  Clark,  and  seized  one  hundred  and  thirty 
horses. 

Captain  Samson  found  an  old  Indian  encampment  in  FTueces, 


* Vouchers,  Cuaderno,  No.  7,  pp.  65  to  67. 
t Vouchers,  Cuaderno,  No.  7,  pp.  67  to  70. 
t Vouchers,  Cuaderno,  No.  7,  p.  71. 


362 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


which  liad  served  as  a refuge  to  the  Indians  in  the  spring  of  1859, 
and  when  he  made  his  report  in  October,  he  remarked,  “ tliat  in 
his  opinion  the  greater  number  of  the  bands  * * * § who  invaded  tliat 
part  of  the  country  came  from  the  north  and  created  disturb- 
ances on  the  frontier  on  either  shore  of  the  Rio  Grande.  In 
case  of  pursuit,  if  they  succeeded  in  crossing  the  river,  they 
considered  themselves  safe  in  Mexican  tei'ritory.”  f 

Rews  ot  atrocities  committed  by  the  Indians  came  from 
hort  Stockton  on  the  2Ttli  October,:};  that  not  far  from  the  fort 
two  men  had  been  killed  and  a number  of  horses  stolen.  On 
this  occasion,  the  editors  of  the  Herald  asked  : Plow  long  will 
the  lives  of  men  be  exposed  through  the  criminal  economy  of  the 
government  ? IIow  long  will  the  present  administration  de- 
preciate the  lives  and  property  of  its  citizens?  § 

In  November,!  troops  from  Forts  Clarke  and  Inge,  with 
citizens  from  Uvalde,  started  in  pursuit  of  the  Comanches, 
whom  they  routed  near  Fort  Terret.  This  was  the  official  re- 
port made  by  the  expedition.  In  the  same  month,  prepara- 
tions were  made  to  await  the  Indians  at  the  Springs  of  Leon, 
that  being  the  point  from  which  they  had  made  their  entrance.^! 
Official  intelligence  from  Fort  Clark,  relative  to  the  encounter 
referred  to,  stated  that  the  Indians  with  whom  they  had  fought 
near  Fort  Terret,  carried  guns,  revolvers,  and  bows  and  arrows. 

During  the  three  months  ending  November,  1859,  in  which 
Captain  Samson  **  and  his  company  had  been  scouring  the 
county  of  “Kerr”  and  the  vicinity,  he  is  said  to  have  discov- 
ered various  trails  leading  to  the  settlements,  but  as  the  Indians 
were  on  foot,  it  was  almost  impossible  to  discover  and  punish 


* Vouchers,  Cuaderno,  No.  *7,  p.  75. 

f “ I am  of  the  opinion  that  most  of  the  parties  that  visit  our  part  of  the  fron- 
tier come  from  the  north,  and  whip  around  to  the  Rio  Grande  on  their  return. 
In  case  of  pursuit,  if  they  can  cross  that  stream,  they  feel  safe  in  Mexican  terri- 
tory.” 

t Vouchers,  Cuaderno,  No.  1,  p.  17. 

§ IIow  long  will  human  life  be  a prey  to  the  puny  economy  of  the  govern- 
ment? How  long  will  this  utter  disregard  of  life  and  property  characterize  the 
present  administration  ? 

II  Vouchers,  Cuaderno,  No.  7,  p.  78.  Vouchers,  Cuaderno,  No.  7,  p.  79. 

**  Vouchers,  Cuaderno,  No.  7,  pp.  82  to  85. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


363 


tliein.  At  tlie  end  of  the  yeai‘  the  Indians  invaded  the  county 
of  Blanco,  from  whence  they  stole  a few  liorses. 

From  all  the  reports  of  Indian  depredations  in  Texas  during 
the  year  1859,  it  will  be  observed  that  the  murders  committed 
by  them  were  few,  and  the  damages  from  robbery  small,  since 
the  stolen  goods  were  nearly  always  recovered,  and  a number 
of  Indians  reported  as  killed.  Those  who  could  never  be  pun- 
ished, according  to  reports  from  Fort  Quitman,  were  the  Mes- 
caleros,  on  account  of  their  taking;  refug:e  in  the  mountains  of 
Chihuahua.  FTevertheless,  these  did  not  altogether  escape,  for 
at  a later  date  they  were  whipped  at  “ Caiion  del  Ferro,”  Texas, 
to  which  place  they  had  returned,  which  is  conclusive  evidence 
that  the  Mescaleros  lived  in  Texas. 

The  incursions  along  the  whole  left  bank  of  the  Bio  Grande, 
clearly  demonstrate  that  those  who  made  the  war  were  Co- 
manches  and  other  northern  tribes.  The  encounters  which 
took  place  near  Fort  Arbuckle,  in  the  Chickasaw  territory, 
leaves  no  room  for  doubt  on  the  subject,  and  the  belief  is  con- 
firmed by  important  revelations  made  by  two  young  Comanches, 
as  for  instance : the  fact  of  the  number  of  2£exican  captives 
and  the  scarcity  of  Americans,  and  the  trade  with  the  reserva- 
tion Indians,  who  furnished  them  with  arms,  as  did  also  the 
agent  at  Fort  Bent.  This  fact  is  sustained  and  confirmed,  as 
well  as  the  other  report  that  there  were  American  leaders 
amongst  the  Indians,  as  was  stated  by  the  girl  of  twelve  years 
of  age,  who  was  rescued  near  Belton,  and  wht)  heard  the  In- 
dians speaking  English.  Still  greater  force  is  lent  to  these 
statements  by  the  testimony  of  the  young  Mexican  captive, 
who  had  been  held  in  the  same  settlement  or  encampment  with 
the  two  Comanche  prisoners,  and  who  reiterated  the  fact  of 
trade  with  the  whites,  and  exchange  of  horses  for  arms,  and 
participation  of  the  authorities  and  citizens  in  this  merchandise 
of  human  blood  and  stolen  property. 

The  observations  of  army  officers,  who  were  in  pursuit  of 
the  savages,  as  to  the  revolvers  in  their  possession,  the  opinion 
of  Capt.  Samson  (Chief  of  the  Bangers),  that  the  bands  who 
carried  hostilities  on  both  banks  of  the  Bio  Grande,  came  from 
the  north,  and  when  pursued,  took  refuge  in  Mexican  territory, 


361 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


and  ill  fact,  the  very  situation  of  the  counties  in  which  the 
depredations  were  committed,  all  go  to  form  incontrovertible 
proof  that  the  ills  endured  bj  Texas,  originated  on  its  own  soil, 
where  the  Indians  dwell,  and  through  its  own  citizens,  who 
furnish  the  savages  with  arms  and  incite  them  to  robbery  and 
murder. 

It  is  worthy  of  notice,  that  during  this  year  all  the  depreda- 
tions committed  were  attributed  to  northern  tribes ; it  is  not 
concealed  that  those  who  assailed  the  county  of  Kerr  and  other 
frontier  counties,  came  from  the  north  and  returned  there  by  the 
same  route,  and  it  is  fully  acknowledged  that  it  was  they  who 
were  the  authors  of  the  injuries  sustained  on  both  banks  of  the 
Rio  Grande.  At  that  time,  then,  Mexico  harbored  none  other 
Indian  tribes  but  tbe  Seminoles,  and  at  this  very  time,  there 
were  American  agents  employed  in  trying  to  effect  their  trans- 
portation or  return  to  the  United  States. 

As  regards  the  damages  sustained  by  Mexico,  apart  from 
those  before  mentioned  and  proved,  later  data  collected  in 
Texas,  by  means  of  the  official  reports  from  Fort  Quitman,  as 
well  as  from  letters  written  from  the  frontier,  and  through  the 
statements  made  by  the  very  Comanches  themselves  relative 
to  the  great  number  of  Mexican  prisoners  retained  by  them,  it 
is  unquestionable  that  these  do  not  proceed  from  any  other 
source  than  by  way  of  Texas  or  the  United  States. 

A glance  at  the  map  of  that  State  and  of  the  frontiers  of 
the  United  States  and  Mexico,  compared  with  the  official  in- 
formation given,  and  the  statements  of  citizens  who  have  pur- 
sued the  Indians,  all  afford  another  material  proof  of  the 
source  from  whence  the  Indians  come.  It  is  useless,  therefore, 
to  enumerate  facts  to  establish  this  opinion,  except  perhaps  the 
expression  of  feeling  in  the  invaded  counties,  from  which  may 
be  traced  the  point  from  whence  the  Indians  came. 

During  the  year  I860,*  they  appeared  by  way  of  Mason, 
Brady  Creek,  La  Leona  y Frio,  Laredo,  Camp  Colorado  and 
Fort  Lawson.  It  was  somewhat  remarkable  that  in  these  in- 
vasions the  Indians  w^ere  generally  on  foot,  and  that  those  who 


* Cuaderno,  No.  7,  pp.  84  to  101. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


365 


were  pursued  from  Laredo  passed  by  Fort  Clark  on  their  waj^ 
northward,  which  indicates  the  extension  of  tlieir  wanderinsrs. 
and  shows  that  there  is  no  reason  to  blame  other  Indians  than 
the  aborigines  of  Texas. 

In  the  same  year  the  San  Antonio  Herald  of  February  22, 
published  intact  an  official  report  from  ^Captain  Richard  M. 
Richardson,  in  command  of  cavalry  troops  stationed  at  Fort 
Mason,  addressed  to  Capt.  John  Withers,  adjutant.  The 
report  was  dated  February  16,  and,  after  referring  to  the  oper- 
ations against  the  Indians  pursued  by  the  ti’oops,  and  the 
results  thereof,  he  concluded  the  communication  with  these 
remarkable  words  : * 

“ There  can  be  no  doubt  but  that  white  men  were  engaged 
with  these  Indians.  When  I charged  upon  the  camp  I heard 
two  persons  within,  speaking  the  English  language  too  fluently 
to  be  Indians.  This  party  was  mounted,  and  armed  with  rifles 
and  six-shooters.” 

Meridian,  Palo  Pinto,  Mason,  Bosque,  Hil,  Brazos  and 
Belknap,  all  sufiered  depredations,  and  some  of  them  were  of 
a horrible  character.  In  mentioning  these,  the  Herald  of 
March  20  quotes  the  Houston  Telegraph  : f 

“ The  Indians  killed  ten  persons,  carried  some  off  cap- 
tive, and  horribly  abused  others,  especially  two  young  ladies, 
whom,  after  abusing  with  all  the  brutality  which  Indians  and 
white  outlaws  know  so  well  how  to  practice,  they  stripped 
them  of  their  clothing  and  turned  them  loose  to  die  of  cold  and 
hunger,  or  to  fall  again  in  the  hands  of  the  brutes  who  infest 
the  country,  or  to  be  torn  to  pieces  by  savage  beasts  of  prey.” 

Other  incursions  followed,  and  Castroville,  Eagle  Springs, 
Boerne,  Fredericksburg,  and  Laredo  sufiered  considerably. 
Rew  proofs  that  the  Indians  were  led  by  Americans  who  used 
this  mask  to  obtain  plunder  through  the  medium  of  the  sav- 
ages, whom  they  aided  in  their  work  of  pillage  and  murder.  On 
the  16th  March,  1860,  after  a skirmish  with  the  Indians,  intel- 
ligence came  from  Castroville  to  the  Herald  as  follows : j; 

“ The  chief  spoke  good  English  and  Spanish,  and  said  that 


* Cuaderno,  No.  7,  p.  95. 
t Cuaderno,  No.  7,  p.  98. 


f Cuaderno,  No.  7,  p.  97. 


366 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


be  knew  a great  deal  of  German  also.  The  Indians  carried 
rifles  and  six-shooters.” 

On  the  16th  of  March,  1867,  this  same  paper  published  a 
letter  from  Mr.  Henry  Hedmond,  owner  of  the  ranche  of  this 
name,  giving  valuable  information  of  tlie  depredations  from 
which  the  towns  were  suffering,  and,  amongst  other  things, 
remai'ked  : * 

“In  January,  a Mexican  boy  was  captured  by  the  Indians 
about  twenty-flve  miles  from  this  place,  in  Mexican  territory  ; 
he  escaped  a few  days  since  during  a battle  between  the 
Indians  and  the  troops  from  Fort  Clark,  and  has  returned  to 
his  home.  lie  says  that  the  Indians  are  at  war  with  Mexico 
and  Texas,  and  that  there  are  a great  many  above  here  in  the 
Pecos  and  Independence  Creeks,  composed  of  Kickapoos,  Co- 
manches,  and  Lipans.” 

The  paragraph  concluded  as  follows : 

“ A short  time  since,  we  saw  an  account  in  one  of  our  Mis- 
souri exchanges  of  the  lynching  of  five  of  these  Indians  Avho 
were  captured,  with  a lot  of  horses  in  their  possession,  by  a 
company  of  settlers.  They  turned  out  to  be  bogus  Indians, 
painted  white  horse  thieves  and  murderers,  and  they  admitted, 
at  the  time  of  their  execution,  that  they  had  just  come  over 
from  Texas,  where  they  had  stolen  all  the  stock  they  had  with 
them.” 

From  1861  to  1865,  the  emergencies  of  war  prevented  the 
periodicals  from  giving  the  details  of  the  doings  of  the  Indians, 
and  it  was  not  until  1866,  that  intelligence  upon  this  subject 
reappeared  in  their  columns. f These  depredations  had  been 
continued  up  to  1867,  when  nine  hundred  Comanches  attacked 
Foi’t  Lancaster,  and  continued  there  marauding  through  the  fol- 
lowing year  in  Bandera,  Fredericksburg,  Llano,  Camp  Atkison, 
Hondo,  Frio,  Sabinal,  San  Marcos,  Middleton,  Fort  Mason,  San 
Saba,  Leon,  Pedernales,  Guadalupe,  New  Brauufelds,  Boerne, 
Fort  Davis,  Concho,  Loyal  Yalley,  Kickapoo  Springs,  and 
Camino  del  Paso. 

The  depredations  committed  in  1860  and  the  following 
years,  on  the  margin  of  the  Bio  Grande  and  the  central  counties 


* Cuaderno,  No.  7,  p.  106. 


f Cuaderno,  No.  7,  pp.  105  to  126. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


367 


of  Texas,  the  official  report  that  Americans  were  in  league  with 
the  Indians,  the  ccnfirmation  of  these  reports  by  the  “ Galves- 
ton News,”  and  the  statements  received  from  Castroville,  all 
present  horrible  pictures  of  deeds  committed,  which  were  not 
attributed  to  Mexican  Indians  or  to  those  residing  in  Mexico, 
but  to  those  of  the  United  States  who  were  in  collusion  with 
Avhite  men.  It  was  Avell  known  in  Texas  that  these  same  In- 
dians who  committed  robberies  in  Mexico,  crossed  the  Kio 
Grande,  and,  on  their  return  by  way  of  Fort  Clark,  they  re- 
leased a captive  whom  they  had  taken  on  Mexican  soil.  This 
having  occurred  in  1867,  three  years  after  the  coming  of  the 
Kickapoos  to  Mexico,  it  was  not  considered  strange  that  the 
captive  denounced  said  Indians  as  associates  of  the  Comanches, 
since  it  was  believed  that  the  tribe  of  Kickapoos,  to  whom  he 
referred,  belonged  to  that  portion  of  the  tribe  who  had  re- 
mained in  the  United  States. 

On  perusing  the  information  sent  to  the  press  from  the 
above  mentioned  places,  the  attention  of  the  Commission  was 
attracted  by  several  very  important  features  of  the  case.  First, 
that  from  August,  1868,*  after  the  Kickapoos  came  to  Mexico, 
no  mention  is  made  of  them  as  participators  in  the  depredations 
committed,  yet,  notwithstanding  this  fact,  the  writer  from  Fort 
Mason  alludes  somewhat  dubiously  to  this  omission  ; second,  in 
reporting  the  encounters  with  the  Indians,  they  are  said  to 
have  been  armed  wdtli  bows  and  arrows  and  shields,  arms  not 
used  by  the  Kickapoos ; and,  in  the  third  place,  that  they  un- 
derstood English,  as  was  noticed  in  one  of  the  skirmishes  had 
Avitli  them. 

From  the  examination  made,  which  covers  eight  years,  ex- 
clusive of  the  years  of  the  war,  we  have  as  a result  the  fact 
that,  up  to  1868,  there  were  considerable  losses  in  Texas 
through  murders  and  robberies  committed  by  the  Indians,  and 
up  to  tliat  time  there  was  no  doubt  Avhatever  that  the  perpetra- 
tors were  Comanches  in  league  with  other  Indians  from  the 
reservations,  and  other  tribes  known  as  Wild  Indians.  These 
acts,  corroborated  by  the  instigators  of  the  bloody  struggle 


* Cuaderno,  No.  Y,  p.  118. 


368 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


whicli  was  sustained,  and  from  wliom  important  confessions 
were  forced,  not  only  serve  to  explain  what  was  actually  taking 
place,  but  also  to  foretell  what  was  likely  to  happen  in  the 
ensuing  years. 

It  being  indisputable  that  white  men  instigated  the  Indians 
to  robbery,  and  furnished  them  with  arms  and  ammunition, 
sometimes  directly,  and  at  others  through  the  reservation  In- 
dians, it  is  easy  to  believe  that  one  step  further  would  convert 
them  into  guides  and  commanders  of  the  sav'ages  on  their 
marauding  excursions ; and  the  fact  was  soon  discovered 
through  various  sources,  that  white  men  or  Americans  accom- 
panied and  led  the  Indians  in  these  invasions.  The  most  ab- 
solute proofs  have  been  obtained  of  this  criminal  act,  which 
words  fail  to  characterize,  for  there  are  official  reports,  state- 
ments of  released  captives,  of  innocent  maidens,  and  of  men  of 
veracity  and  clear  judgment,  all  going  to  prove  that  there  have 
been  cases,  like  those  of  the  Missouri,  in  which  white  men — 
Americans — disguised  as  Indians,  conducted  horses  stolen  in 
Texas. 

It  being  only  five  years  since  these  atrocities  were  consum- 
mated, and  no  proof  existing  that  any  energetic  measures  on 
the  part  of  the  Federal  Government  or  of  Texas  have  ever  been 
taken  to  discover  the  criminals,  who  associated  with  Indians 
and  disguised  themselves  in  savage  garb,  it  will  not  be  difficult 
to  surmise  that  the  evil  increased  from  day  to  day. 

The  acts  committed  in  Kerr  county  this  year  prove  this 
clearly,  and  the  Commission  will  make  no  commentary  on  the 
following  report  of  the  grand  jury,  presided  over  by  the  Hon. 
Judge  Everet,  from  which  a plain  idea  will  be  formed  of  the 
effect  of  the  negligence  or  apathy  of  the  authorities  : * 

“Report  of  the  grand  jury,  presided  over  by  the  Hon. 
Judge  Everet : We,  the  grand  jury  of  the  county  of  Kerr, 
elected  and  sworn  in  for  the  present  session  of  court,  respect- 
fully submit  the  following  report  of  the  condition  of  our  county  ; 
With  care  and  diligence  we  have  incpiired  into  the  facts  rela- 
tive to  the  execution  of  Jamison  and  the  dragging  of  James 
Ratcliffe  and  George  Graftenreid  from  the  prison,  followed  by 
the  immediate  execution  of  the  men,  and  alter  the  most  careful 


Vouchers,  Cuaderno,  No.  1,  pp.  13,  14  and  15. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


369 


investigation  of  the  ease,  we  have  been  unable  to  discover,  or 
even  to  get  a trace  of  the  persons  who  infringed  the  law  in  this 
respect. 

“■  Our  county  is  situated  on  the  frontier ; and  a short  time 
previous  to  this,  it  was  invaded  by  fugitive  criminals  coming 
from  the  more  populous  counties  of  the  northeast.  These  per- 
sons have  taken  up  their  abode  on  the  Rio  Guadalupe,  a region 
almost  uninhabited,  covering  a great  extent  of  mouutainous 
country,  in  which  numerous  caves  abound,  forming  a secure 
and  easy  refuge  ; the  valleys  are  rich  and  the  pasture  excellent, 
serving  for  the  sustenance  of  their  flocks.  From  these  almost 
inaccessible  mountains,  the  outlaws  have  swooped  down  upon 
the  towns  and  villages,  robbing  cattle,  and  effacing  the  brands 
by  substituting  their  own. 

“It  is  also  discovered  and  proved,  by  good  and  reliable  evi- 
dence, that,  not  content  with  stealing  cattle,  they  have  disguised 
themselves  as  Indians,  the  natural  enemies  of  the  white  men, 
and,  under  this  garb,  have  added,  not  unfrequently,  to  their 
innumerable  crimes,  those  of  murder  and  incendiarism. 

“ It  is  unfortunate  that  some  unknown  persons  have  applied 
prompt  punishment  to  these  criminals,  without  awaiting  the 
action  of  the  courts.  As  the  act  was  secret,  it  flas  been  quite 
impossible  to  discover  the  perpetrators  or  those  who  took  any 
pai’t  ■whatever  in  it.  We  honestly  believe  that  this  state  of  af- 
fairs has  ended,  and  that  in  the  future  affairs  will  return  to  the 
peace  and  quiet  heretofore  enjoyed.  Respectfully  submitted, 
this  31st  day  of  July,  1873,  by  the  president, 

“ CIIAS.  SCHIRER.” 

The  application  of  the  terrible  “ Lynch  Law,”  and  the 
abuses  of  it  by  whomsoever  it  may  have  been  put  in  practice, 
and  for  whatever  other  crimes  it  may  have  been  applied,  goes 
to  show  the  popular  feeling  in  Kerr  county  in  respect  to  assas- 
sinatiotis  and  robberies  of  cattle  and  horses  by  persons  under  the 
disguise  of  Indians,  and  the  little  confidence  had  in  appeal  to 
judicial  administration.  This  case  also  proves  the  exactness  of 
the  before  named  articles  and  other  evidence  which  accuses 
white  men,  disguised  as  Indians,  of  being  the  actual  perpetra- 
tors of  these  crimes,  of  -which  they  -were  accused  since  1855,  by 
officers  of  the  Mexican  army,  as  has  been  previously  stated. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  this  state  of  affairs  in  Texas 
was  the  result  of  acts  committed  by  their  own  citizens  in  league 
with  the  Indians,  and  that  at  that  time  the  Federal  Govern- 
24 


370 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


raent  had  almost  surrounded  Texas  hj  forts  and  military  posts, 
covering  the  boundaries  towards  the  northeast,  and  guarding  it 
on  the  north  by  the  lied  river.  The  boldness  of  the  Indians 
in  daring  to  force  their  way  through  a line  so  garrisoned,  for, 
though  but  poorly  defended,  it  still  formed  a very  formidable 
barrier,  can  only  be  accounted  for  in  the  fact  previously  noted, 
that  Americans  were  the  guides  and  leaders  of  the  savages,  fur- 
nishing them  constantly  with  the  number  of  the  forces  and  all 
other  information  which  would  serve  to  render  their  expedi- 
tions successful. 

It  will  be  well,  just  here,  to  note  that  the  line  of  United 
States  forts  and  military  posts  extends  from  100''  to  101°  parallel 
of  west  longitude,  and  on  the  north,  from  Eagle  Pass,  their  num- 
ber includes  Forts  Duncan,  luge,  Clark,  Campo  Verde,  Terrett, 
McKavett,  Campo  de  San  Saba,  Concho,  Campo  Colorado, 
Chadbourne,  Phantom  Hill,  Griffin,  Campo  de  San  Marcos,  and 
Camp  Cooper.  These  two  last  posts  * are  situated  on  one  of 
the  branches  south  of  Brazos  river,  on  the  33°  of  north  latitude, 
and  directly  on  the  route  to  the  reservations  of  the  Comanches, 
Kiowas  and  Apaches,  lying  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Red  river, 
in  the  35°  of  latitude.  Thus,  there  is  over  forty  leagues  over 
which  the  Indians  could  roam  and  enter  Texas  from  the  reser- 
vations and  the  prairies  on  which  they  dwelt,  with  scarcely  any 
obstacle,  in  spite  of  the  numerous  forts  situated  in  the  center. 

Although  the  object  of  the  Federal  Government  in  establish- 
ing such  forts  and  military  stations  was  the  protection  and  se- 
curity of  the  populated  portion  of  Texas,  it  will  be  seen  that  it 
was  not  successful,  and  that  the  Indians  have  overrun  Texas 
from  all  directions,  passed  through  the  line  of  military  posts  into 
Mexico,  and  returned  with  captives  and  other  fruits  of  their 
plunder,  as  is  proved  by  occasions  when  they  were  attacked  near 
the  forts  and  the  Mexican  captives  released. 

The  Indians  had  by  this  time  prepared  another  market; 
they  robbed  in  Mexico  and  Texas  and  carried  their  plunder  to 
New  Mexico  to  dispose  of  it,  and  the  trade  in  this  was  so  exten- 
sive there,  and  so  barefaced,  that  the  “ Borderer,”  a periodical 


* See  map  of  Texas. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


371 


of  “ Cruces,”  Kew  Mexico,  attempted  to  defend  it  by  upbraid- 
ing a wealthy  stock  raiser  of  “ Palo  Pinto,”  who  endeavored  to 
recover  his  cattle  which  the  Indians  had  stolen  and  sold  in  that 
territory,  perhaps  in  connection  with  the  white  outlaws  from 
Kerr,  dwelling  on  the  Guadalupe  river. 

Mr.  Hittson,  the  stock  raiser  of  “ Palo  Pinto,”  above  re- 
ferred to,  wrote  on  the  10th  February  of  said  year  to  the  presi- 
dent of  the  Committee  on  Indian  Affairs;  and  the  matter  of 
which  he  treats  is  of  such  grave  importance  that  his  letter  can- 
not be  omitted.  It  runs  as  follows ; 

“ Sir:  Your  letter  dated  January  3d,  in  which  you  request 
a detailed  account  of  my  expedition  to  Kew  Mexico  in  search 
of  stolen  cattle,  is  at  hand,  and  it  gives  me  great  pleasure  to 
accede  to  your  wishes,  as  far  as  my  memory  will  permit  me, 
not  having  at  hand  all  the  minutes  of  my  operations,  which 
would  make  a complete  report.  You  and  the  other  members 
of  the  committee  are  well  aware  that  the  stock  raisers  of  the 
northwest  portion  of  Texas  have  been  subjected  to  immense 
losses  from  the  frequent  invasions  of  the  Comanches,  Caiguas, 
and  other  tribes  of  Indians,  and  that  through  their  constant 
and  unrestrained  depredations,  the  large  flocks  and  herds  of 
past  yeai-s  have  been  exhausted  in  this  section  of  the  country. 
In  order  to  put  a stop,  as  far  as  was  possible,  to  these  acts,  and 
to  recover  the  stolen  property,  I went  to  New  Mexico  last  sum- 
mer, and  in  consequence  of  not  having  any  aid,  and  on  account 
of  the  limited  period  of  my  stay,  I was  only  able  to  accomplish 
a part  of  my  object.  There  are  a great  many  difficulties  in  the 
way  of  recovering  stolen  property,  because  so  many  persons  in 
the  territory  are  implicated,  directly  or  indirectly,  with  the 
Indians  in  the  robbery  of  cattle  on  the  frontier.  They  also  fur- 
nish them  with  arms  and  ammunition,  with  which  numbers  of 
our  people  have  been  murdered  and  mutilated.  From  this 
cause,  I met  with  great  opposition,  with  which  I had  to  strug- 
gle in  my  endeavor  to  recover  the  stolen  property.  * * * I 

was  enabled,  however,  to  vanquish  the  majority  of  the  obstacles 
put  in  my  path,  and  I was  put  in  possession  of  live  or  six  thou- 
sand head  of  cattle  which  had  been  stolen;  but  the  herd  was 
recovered  only  at  the  cost  of  enormous  expenditures  almost 
equal  to  the  value  of  the  property.  The  number  of  stolen  cat- 
tle bought  from  the  Indians  and  disp  sed  of  by  those  implicated 
in  this  illegal  traffic,  in  the  territories  of  Arizona  and  New 
Mexico,  is  far  greater  than  is  supposed  by  the  people  of  Texas. 
I am  convinced,  from  personal  observation,  that  it  will  be  no 


372 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


exaggeration  to  estimate  the  number  of  stolen  cattle,  disposed 
of  in  the  manner  above  stated,  at  one  hundred  thousand  head 
during  the  two  last  decades.  Until  some  measures  are  taken 
by  either  the  general  government  or  the  State,  these  depreda- 
tions will  continue.” 

This  criminal  trade  with  the  Indians  presents  itself  on 
every  hand  ; it  has  been  denounced  from  all  parts,  and  this 
fact  being  notorious,  it  has  not  escaped  the  attention  of  the 
Committee  on  Indian  affairs,  the  president  of  which  asked  for 
the  information  contained  in  the  above  quoted  letter,  in  which, 
as  is  seen,  the  Comanches  and  Caiguas  are  expressly  accused 
as  the  principal  authors  of  the  depredations  committed  in 
northwestern  Texas,  and  implicitly  of  those  committed  in  Mex- 
ico, it  being  known  that  on  their  route  the  same  tribes  attack  Mex- 
ico, and  carry  off  large  numbers  of  horses  and  cattle,  which,  to- 
gether with  those  stolen  from  Texas,  find  a market  in  New  Mexico. 

If,  in  spite  of  the  great  number  of  forts  and  military  camps 
situated  on  a direct  line  from  Eagle  Pass  to  Los  Brazos,  the 
sole  object  of  which  has  been  to  protect  Texas  on  the  line  of 
the  prairies,  the  central  point  of  habitation  of  the  Indians,  the 
savages  have  been  able  to  cause  great  evils  to  that  State,  it 
will  be  easy  to  calculate  and  understand  the  amount  of  dam- 
ages sustained  on  the  Mexican  frontier,  constantly  invaded 
since  1818  up  to  one  year  ago,  from  within  this  line,  and  also 
from  the  vast  unprotected  lands  in  the  northwest,  from  Fort 
Clark  to  Paso  del  Norte ; over  this  vast  tract,  from  the  time 
you  leave  Fort  Clark,  there  are  no  other  posts  save  Hudson, 
Lancaster  and  Stockton,  at  great  distances  from  each  other  and 
from  the  Rio  Grande.  After  these  on  El  Paso  road,  there  is 
Fort  Davis,  far  distant  from  the  river,  and  above  Presidio  del 
Norte  is  Fort  Quitman,  and  no  other  defense  until  you  reach 
El  Paso. 

The  immense  open  tracts  lying  between  the  posts  have 
made  incursions  easy,  and  served  as  a refuge  for  Nuxcaleros, 
Lipans  and  Comanches,  who  have  always  dwelt  on  Puerco 
river.  From  this  source  and  cause  come  many  of  the  evils  of 
the  Mexican  frontier,  and  many  of  those  of  Texas,  as  is  proved 
by  the  robberies  committed  at  “Palo  Pinto.” 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


373 


Without  having  any  military  information,  the  Commission 
will  risk  an  opinion,  based  on  a comparison  of  the  military 
posts  of  to-day  and  those  established  and  maintained  by  the 
Spanish  Government,  and  preserved  by  that  of  Mexico,  that 
the  latter  were  better  calculated  to  obtain  the  desired  object, 
even  as  to  the  location  of  the  forces,  which,  without  being 
numerous,  maintained  peace  and  security.  But  their  lives 
were  not  inactive,  and,  besides,  there  were  none  to  incite  the 
Indians  to  robbery  at  that  time. 

The  depredations  of  the  Indians  during  the  last  five 
years,  between  1869  and  1873,  differ  very  slightly  from 
those  committed  previously,  for  they  have  not  changed  the 
theatre  of  their  pernicious  acts,  nor  the  manner  of  committing 
them.  The  robbery  of  horses  and  cattle  has  been  constantly 
maintained  in  the  invaded  counties,  and  in  order  to  execute 
their  design  with  security,  they  employed  the  same  tactics  as 
in  Mexico,  dividing  in  small  groups  and  attacking  many  places 
at  the  same  time,  thus  diverting  attention  and  escaping  easily 
with  their  booty — another  proof  that  the  thieves  and  assassins 
in  Texas  and  Mexico  were  the  same  people. 

Worthy  of  notice  and  special  consideration  is  the  difference 
of  the  proceedings  taken  in  Texas  and  in  Mexico.  The  au- 
thorities of  the  former  do  not  seem  to  have  taken  any  meas- 
ures for  organizing  the  citizens  and  arming  them  against  the 
enemy  who  devastated  their  property,  but  on  the  contrary,  the 
action  seems  to  have  been  individual  and  without  system.  The 
injured  parties  have  assembled  and,  without  order  or  leaders, 
have  started  in  pursuit  of  the  criminals,  and  if  in  some  in- 
stances they  have  been  successful,  far  more  frequently  they 
have  utterly  failed. 

This  absence  of  concerted  action  and  unity  on  the  part 
of  the  counties  springs,  without  doubt,  from  the  repara- 
tion which  they  expect  to  receive  for  their  losses  through 
the'  Federal  government,  which  owes  them  security ; and 
this  feeling  crops  out  in  all  the  actions  of  the  people, — in  the 
statements  made  by  individuals,  who  not  unfrequently  contra- 
dict themselves,  not  having  really  witnessed  the  acts,  and  in  the 
notorious  exaggerations  of  others  who,  not  fearing  any  public 


374: 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


authorities  who  could  force  them  to  tell  the  truth,  present 
things  in  a manner  suitable  for  a claim,  or  for  a sensation  in 
the  newspapers. 

For  this  reason,  no  great  confidence  can  be  placed  on  the 
number  of  the  depredations  asserted  ; but  it  is,  nevertheless,  well 
proved  that  they  have  been  frequent,  because  the  commanders 
of  the  forts  have  published,  from  time  to  time,  an  account  of 
their  operations,  which  were  sometimes  corroborated  here  by 
the  sufferings  of  Mexicans,  transient  and  permanent  residents 
in  Texas. 

If,  after  the  precaution  suggested,  evidence  is  admitted  or  re- 
ports considered  not  having  an  official  source,  it  will  still  appear 
that  the  counties  of  Texas  have  suffered  greatly  from  invasions 
on  the  part  of  the  Comanches  and  Caiguas  from  the  reserva- 
tions, and  other  tribes,  not  living  on  the  reservations,  distin- 
guished by  the  name  of  wild  Indians. 

Tliere  are  indications  in  the  places  where  they  have  been 
encamped,  and  in  others  where  the  Indians  have  approached 
near  enough  in  broad  daylight  to  be  clearly  seen,  to  convince 
the  observer  that  the  invaders  have  been  none  others  than  the 
Comanches  and  Caiguas.  Other  vestiges  noticed  in  the  north- 
west in  the  combats  had  in  that  district  with  the  Indians,  indi- 
cate that  the  Apaches  and  Comanches  are  the  ones  who  attack 
that  portion  of  the  State,  sometimes  together,  and  sometimes 
separately. 

In  designating  the  tribes  who  have  committed  the  depreda- 
tions, the  correctness  of  the  data  heretofore  given  is  corrobor- 
ated by  the  testimony  of  persons  living  at  the  forts.  One  of 
these  persons,*  writing  from  Fort  Griffin  on  the  12th  of  June, 
1869,  affirmed  that  the  Indians  from  the  reservations  were  the 
authors  of  the  depredations,  and  that  the  reservations  were 
nothing  more  than  a rendezvous  and  depot  for  the  stolen  ani- 
mals. These  Indians,  said  the  letter,  “ are  an  organization  of 
thieves,  whose  object  is  to  make  money  by  the  purchase  'of 
stolen  animals.  There  can  be  no  doubt  (it  continued)  of  this 
fact  on  the  part  of  persons  who  are  aware  of  the  proceedings  of 


* Cnaderno,  No.  7,  p.  139. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


375 


the  past  three  months,  but  it  is  somewhat  astonishing  and  pe- 
culiar that  the  robbery  of  horses  and  mules  in  the  vicinity  of 
this  locality  coincides  with  the  arrival  of  certain  persons  from 
‘ Cash  Creek,’  who  bave  no  known  occupation  or  mode  of 
livelihood,  and  it  is  worthy  of  notice  that  Texans  were 
not  admitted  to  the  reservations.” 

The  same  writer  * gives  an  account  of  frauds  existing  in  the 
reservations,  enumerating  the  cases  of  stolen  property  carried 
over  this  route,  and  concludes  by  saying  that  it  was  easy 
enough  for  them  to  do  this,  “ because  the  white  friends  of  the 
Indians  kept  them  posted  as  to  the  number  aud  movements  of 
the  troops.” 

The  investigations  made  in  Guerrero  City  by  the  Commis- 
sion confirm  some  of  the  articles  published  by  the  papers  of 
San  Antonio,  which  remarked,  referring  to  letters  of  Septem- 
ber 26,  1S71,  received  from  Uvalde,  that  the  Indians  had 
approached  Eagle  Pass  not  far  from  that  place,  and  had  killed 
two  negroes  at  Fort  Clark,  This  was  also  mentioned  by  Ser- 
vando  Gonzalez,t  whom  the  Comanches  and  Caiguas  had  cap- 
tured from  the  rancho  del  “ Prieto,”  Texas,  in  that  month. 
The  captive  added,  as  a confirmation  of  what  Mr.  Hittson  had 
declared,  that  persons  from  New  Mexico  went  to  trade  with  the 
Indians,  and  exchanged  cattle  and  horses  for  arms  and  other 
goods. 

From  letters  dated  Friotown,  January  29th,  1872,  % it 
was  known  that  the  Indians  who  had  been  seen  at  the  head  of 
the  Nueces,  and  who  had  proceeded  to  the  county  of  Llano,  were 
Comanches,  as  was  certified  by  experts  who  had  examined  the 
arrows.  Wherever  an  efTort  has  been  made  to  discover  the 
truth,  none  other  tribes  have  been  found,  save  the  Caiguas, 
who  almost  always  accompany  the  Comanches. 

Mention  is  also  again  made  of  the  Kickapoos,§  residing  in 
Mexico,  implicating  them  in  the  robberies  committed  on  the 
banks  of  the  Rio  Grande.  The  writer  throws  out  this  suspi- 
cion, which  springs  from  having  seen  these  Indians  roaming 


* Cuaderno,  No.  7,  p.  193.  f Expediente,  No.  3,  p.  24  to  26. 

t Cuaderno,  No.  7,  of  Vouchers,  p.  197. 

§ Cuaderno,  No.  7,  of  Vouchers,  p.  193. 


376 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


over  the  lands  near  the  river.  Up  to  tlie  close  of  1872,  no 
formal  accusation  nor  acts  of  notoriety  had  been  alleged,  that 
would  serve  to  implicate  the  Indians  referred  to,  in  the  depre- 
dations committed  in  Texas.  It  being  necessary  to  treat  of 
these  separately,  it  has  been  considered  as  well  to  call  attention 
to  the  fact,  that  until  last  year  the  sufferers  themselves  in 
Texas  recognized  the  reservation  Indians  and  the  other  sav- 
ages inhabiting  the  neighboring  plains  as  the  authors  of  the 
robberies  and  murders  committed. 

After  having  referred,  with  such  detailed  minuteness,  to 
the  depredations  committed  in  Texas  from  1857  to  1868,  the 
Commission  will  explain  why  they  did  not  proceed  in  the  same 
manner  in  regard  to  the  ensuing  years.  The  reason  is  obvious. 
It  was  necessary  to  expose  the  evils  which  had  existed  in 
Texas  at  the  time  when  no  Indians  were  living  in  Mexico,  and 
this  had  to  be  done  in  detail,  in  order  that  the  causes  of 
the  troubles  assigned  might  be  properly  understood,  and  appre- 
ciated, and  that  they  might  serve  to  explain  the  acts  committed 
in  following  years.  At  that  time  there  being  no  Indians  in 
Mexico,  and  those  living  on  American  soil  being  the  only  ones 
known,  no  others  could  possibly  be  accused  of  committing  the 
depredations.  At  that  time  the  truth  was  told,  but  aftewards, 
for  reasons  which  will  be  hereafter  noted,  it  was  not  convenient 
to  acknowledge  the  same  causes,  and  therefore  accusations  were 
indulged  in  against  Mexico. 

The  total  depravity  of  hundreds  of  individuals  living  in 
Texas  and  the  contiguous  States  has  become  so  patent  since 
1858,  that  a great  many  Americans  commenced  to  allude 
to  this  state  of  affairs  in  the  newspapers,  denouncing,  for 
the  first  time,  the  criminal  intercourse  of  American  traders 
with  the  Indians,  as  has  been  stated  in  the  case  of  Chism.  That 
accusation  was  confirmed  by  reports  of  captives,  Comanches, 
women,  children,  oflicers  of  the  Government,  and  the  stock- 
raisers,  all  of  whom,  year  by  year,  have  revealed  some  act  or  an- 
other putting  this  alleged  crime  beyond  a doubt.  And  j'et  neither 
the  Government  of  Texas  nor  the  General  Government,  nor  even 
the  people,  in  spite  of  repeated  denunciations,  have  taken  any 
measures  to  discover  and  punish  the  criminals,  who  have  grown 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


377 


so  bold  as  to  establish  themselves  almost  in  the  heart  of  Texas, 
disguised  as  savages,  and  more  to  be  dreaded  on  account  of 
their  superior  intelligence  and  audacity. 

From  the  number  of  men  who  have  given  themselves  up  to 
the  horrible  crimes  alleged  and  proved  against  them,  an  esti- 
mate may  be  made  of  the  low  stage  of  morality  in  Texas,  and 
the  reason  why  the  Kickapoos  have  been  blamed  in  latter 
years  for  the  depredations  committed  in  that  State  may  be 
found  in  the  fact  that  a few  of  the  tribe  have  been  surprised 
and  inveigled  by  the  criminals,  who  doubtless  intended  in  this 
manner  to  conceal  their  own  horrible  crimes  by  laying  the 
blame  on  others,  and  to  stimulate  feeling  and  prejudice  against 
Mexico  in  the  minds  of  the  Texan  people,  in  order  to  seek  a 
quarrel  with  the  Mexican  frontier. 

The  correctness  of  this  judgment  is  verified  on  consider- 
ing the  proceedings  of  the  present  year,  and  connecting 
them  with  the  invasion  of  Remolino,  whilst  in  pursuit  of 
the  Kickapoos. 

The  following  will  explain  the  means  that  were  used  to 
call  the  attention  of  the  public  by  grave  acts,  in  order  to 
divert  the  minds  of  persons  from  the  criminals  who  lived  in 
Texas. 

On  the  9th  January,  1873,*  the  “ Galveston  News  ” published 
reports  from  Live  Oak  county  of  murders  and  robberies  com- 
mitted by  the  Kickapoos  a short  distance  from  Oakville,  saying' 
that  the  Indians  had  been  killed  after  a valiant  defense,  and 
that  they  were  armed  with  pistols  and  bows  and  arrows.  They 
also  asserted  that  the  Indians  were  Kickapoos,  and  drew  this 
inference  from  the  fact  that  they  bore  chimales  (shields),  and 
that  the  shepherd  who  was  wounded,  himself  a Mexican,  so 
affirmed.  The  statement  itself  possesses  the  elements  why  it 
should  be  rejected,  because  the  fact  is  well  known  that  these 
Indians  do  not  use  bows  and  arrows,  nor  shields  nor  pistols. 
This  invasion  was  by  the  Comanches  and  Caiguas,  the  same  as 
the  one  of  the  previous  year,  by  which  the  stock-raisers  of  San 


Cuaderno,  No.  8,  p,  1. 


378 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


Diego,  a ranclio  farther  sonth  than  Oakville,  had  suffered 
terribly  the  previous  August. 

Besides,  these  statements  were  contradicted  a few  days 
afterwards  by  a publication  in  tlie  San  Antonio  Herald*  re- 
ferring to  information  given  by  Mr.  Diamond,  who  had  seen, 
in  the  county  of  Bandera,  Indians  dressed  in  the  United  States 
army  uniform ; they  were  armed  with  bows  and  arrows,  and 
he  had  heard  them  speaking  English  during  the  combat. 

A United  States  army  guide,  who  had  been  employed  in 
this  capacity  fbr  eleven  years,  to  lead  the  troops  wliilst  in  pur- 
suit of  the  Indians,  destroyed  this  report  in  regard  to  the 
Indians  residing  in  Mexico.  On  the  1st  February  of  this  year, 
after  referring  to  the  evils  suffered  by  Bandera,  this  guide  de- 
clared that  after  eleven  years  experience  he  felt  authorized  to 
give  it  as  his  opinion,  that  in  the  first  place  the  mode  of  mak- 
ing war  with  the  Indians  would  be  inefficacious  unless  soldiers, 
either  regulars  or  volunteers  (rangers),  who  would  be  always 
ready  for  the  march,  were  employed  ; and  in  the  second  place, 
he  suggested  as  an  eftective  means  of  defense  the  fortifying  of 
the  line  from  Red  river  to  Rio  Grande,  which  was  all  the 
more  necessary  now  that  the  Indians  were  more  audacious  and 
better  armed  than  the  whites,  having  received  needle  guns  from 
the  American  government.^ 

And  that  no  doubt  should  exist  that  the  Comanches  and 
Caiguas  were  the  invaders  of  Mexico  and  Texas,  and  in  order 
to  deny,  officially,  the  private  intelligence  received  from  Laredo, 
Oakville  and  other  places  on  the  southern  portion  of  the  Rio 
Grande,  concerning  depredations  of  the  Kickapoos,  there  ap- 
peared on  March  31st  of  the  present  year  f a statement  from 
the  headquarters  of  the  army  in  Texas,  giving  information 
that  Mr.  Tatum,  the  Indian  agent,  had  notified  the  recovery 
by  him  of  six  more  captives  from  the  Comanches  and  Caiguas. 
The  names  of  the  released  men,  who  had  been  captured  in  Mex- 
ico and  Texas,  were  Servando  Gonzales,  Manuel  Yela,  and 
those  before  mentioned,  all  of  whom  have  been  examined  by 
the  Commission. 


* Cuaderno,  No.  8,  p.  1. 


t Cuaderno,  No.  8,  of  Vouchers,  p.  1. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


379 


From  February,  when  they  appeared  in  Bandera  and  pro- 
voked the  above  expressions  from  the  guide,  notliing  is  heard 
of  the  Indians  until  May  2‘ith,  when  they  appeared  in  Las 
Nueces,  and  afterwards  four  Imndi’ed  more,  who  had  crossed 
the  Rio  Grande  near  Eagle  Pass. 

Other  incursions  followed  in  June,  and  the  appearance  of 
the  Indians  near  Fort  McKavett,  caused  the  correspondent  of 
the  San  Antonio  Herald*  to  write  from  Menardville  that  the 
Comanches  and  Caiguas  continued  their  work  of  devastation,  f 
A thousand  of  these  Indians,  according  to  advices  from  Fort 
McKavett,  were  encamped  on  tlie  Colorado,  and  it  was  feared 
that  they  would  attack  the  escort  who  was  conveying  prisoners, 
made  by  McKenzie,  to  Fort  Sill.  X 

The  foregoing  had  scarcely  been  pulilished,  when  advices 
came  from  Bandera  that  the  Kickapoos,  and  their  allies,  the 
Mexicans,  were  revenging  themselves  for  the  attack  made  by 
McKenzie,  commencing  by  the  assassination  of  the  family  of 
Mr.  Moore,  dwelling  not  far  from  that  place.  It  was  very 
soon  discovered  that  that  family  had  fallen  victims  to  the 
ferocity  of  disguised  whites,  or  bogus  Indians.§  Without  any 
mistake  whatever,  the  spirit  of  the  letter  referred  to  proved 
that  the  writer  belonged  to  a party  of  banditti,  who  had  been 
prosecuted  in  Herr  county. 

The  presence  of  the  Indians  at  Fort  McKavett,  in  July,  | 
clearly  indicated  the  source  from  whence  they  came,  and  the 
person  who  wrote  to  tlie  San  Antonio  “ Herald^''  stating  that 
the  Counties  of  Brown,  Coleman  and  Camp  Colorado  had  been 
invaded,  mentioned  that  the  reservation  Indians  were  not 
quiet,  and  that  they  and  the  wild  Indians  were  the  perpetrators 
of  the  evils  committed. 

In  June,  one  month  previous,!"  a decided  proof  was  ob- 
tained at  Fort  Concho,  that  the  invaders  of  Texas  were  none 
other  than  the  Comanches.  The  military  held  at  that  post 
one  hundred  prisoners  of  that  tribe,  including  women  and 

* Cuaderao,  No.  8,  of  Vouchers,  p.  4.  f Cuaderno,  No.  8,  of  Vouchers,  p.  6. 

\ Cuaderno,  No.  8,  of  Vouchers,  p.  4.  § Cuaderno,  No.  8,  of  Vouchers,  p.  1.. 

II  Cuaderno,  No.  8,  of  Vouchers,  pp.  4 and  11. 

^ Cuaderno,  No.  8,  of  Vouchers,  p.  1. 


380 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


children,  and  it  was  supposed  that  the  hope  of  eflecting  the 
release  of  their  people  had  restrained  them  from  invading  Del 
Paso  road  during  this  period. 

In  view  of  the  depredations  committed*  at  Frio,  Dogtown, 
Bandera,  Atacoso  and  Hondo,  the  “ Galveston  Hews  ” stated, 
in  July,  that  the  punishment  inflicted  by  McKenzie  had  pro- 
duced no  benefit  whatever,  and  that  there  was  now  no  doubt 
that  the  sufferings  endured  had  proceeded  from  the  Comanches 
and  Kickapoos  of  Fort  Sill.  The  unjustness  of  McKenzie 
was  enlarged  upon,  and  the  falsity  of  the  accusations  against 
Mexico  maintained. 

In  this  same  month  the  Indians  also  appeared  in  the  counties 
of  Uvalde  and  Sabinal,  and,  fifteen  miles  from  Fort  Sill,  the 
postmaster  t obliged  to  ask  protection  against  the  Caiguas, 
who  conducted  themselves  in  an  insolent  and  threatening 
manner. 

Whilst  these  occurrences  were  taking  place,  intelligence 
came  from  Uvalde  that  the  Mexicans  and  Indians  were  the 
perpetrators  of  the  murders,  and  that  they  ought  to  be  ex- 
terminated in  order  to  pirt  a stop  to  so  terrible  a situation ; 
but  the  editors  of  the  “ Herald,”  :{:  on  the  same  day,  expressed 
a different  opinion,  pointing  to  the  reservation  Indians  as  the 
authors  of  the  murders  and  robberies  which  had  occurred,  and 
expressing  an  opinion  that  in  all  of  these  the  reservation 
agent  had  a part ; and  that  the  postponement  of  the  conferences, 
which  were  to  have  taken  place  to  decide  the  fate  of  Satanta 
and  Big  Tree,  chiefs  of  the  Caiguas  who  were  detained  in 
prison,  wms  owing  to  the  fact  that  the  Indians  were  absent  on 
a robbing  expedition,  and  that  the  agent  wanted  to  gain  time 
for  them  to  return. 

EveTy  day  brought  news  of  incursions  in  other  places ; 
and  as  the  disturbances  were  in  counties  contiguous  to  the 
Mexican  frontier,  the  conclusion  arrived  at  was  tbat  the  Kicka- 
poos and  Lipans,  residents  of  Mexico,  were  the  authors  of 


* Cuaderno,  No.  8,  of  Vouchers,  p.  9. 
f Cuaderno,  No.  8,  of  Vouchers,  p.  S'?, 
t Cuaderno,  No.  8,  of  Vouchers,  pp.  16  and  18. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


381 


these  atrocities,  forgetting  that  a portion  of  these  tribes  resided 
in  Texas,  and  were  more  likely  to  commit  these  deeds  than 
the  others  from  whom  they  could  not  be  distinguished,  and 
who  were  closely  watched,  which  was  not  the  case  with  the 
Texan  Indians. 

But  the  “Weekly  Express,”*  in  an  article  of  the  24:th 
July  last,  put  an  end  to  all  these  theories  by  declaring  that 
there  was  conclusive  proof  that  the  Indians  who  invaded  Texas 
came  from  the  reservations  of  Fort  Sill,  as  was  indicated  by 
their  dress,  arms  and  ammunition — strong  corroborative  evi- 
dence. 

“ Besides,”  continued  the  article,  “ none  of  the  trails  were 
directed  towards  the  Rio  Grande,  and  had  the  invaders  come 
from  that  section,  the  fact  would  soon  have  been  discovered. 
The  military,”  it  was  added,  “held  the  same  opinion,  and  they 
were  very  well  informed.” 

At  this  very  time  the  discovery  was  made  in  Kerr,  that  the 
hordes  of  criminals  who,  under  the  disguise  of  Indians,  had 
committed  the  most  horrible  atrocities,  were  white  outlaws, 
and  the  press  being  occupied  with  these,  it  neither  admitted  nor 
published  any  further  accusations  against  the  Mexican  fron- 
tier, for  after  these  disclosures,  it  would  have  been  barefaced 
and  ridiculous  to  have  propagated  reports  which  no  one  would 
have  credited. 

During  the  succeeding  months,  the  papers  were  filled  with 
news  of  incursions,  but  they  limited  themselves  to  a judicious 
observation  on  the  state  of  the  Indian  war,  and  what  is  still 
more  worthy  of  notice,  a general  belief  that  the  marauders 
came  from  the  reservations. 

After' enumerating  the  invasions  made  in  Texas  by  Indians 
who  have  sometimes  been  designated  as  Comanches  or  other 
northern  tribes  residing  in  the  United  States,  and  at  other 
times  as  Kickapoos  living  in  Mexico,  the  result  of  all  the  data, 
collected  from  the  public  press  in  Texas,  and  those  procured  in 
Mexico,  may  be  summed  up  as  follows : 


* Cuaderno,  No.  8,  of  Vouchers,  pp.  10  and  35. 


382 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


First.  The  depredations  committed  in  Mexico,  in  the  States 
of  Xuevo  Leon,  Coahuila,  Tamaulipas,  Zacatecas  and  San  Luis 
Potosi,  since  1848  to  the  present  year,  have  been  perpetrated  by 
the  Comanches,  Caiguas  and  others  of  the  tribes  residing  in  the 
United  States.  This  fact  has  been  fully  established : first,  by 
means  of  the  testimony  given  before  the  Commission  by  the 
residents  on  the  banks  of  the  Kio  Grande,  who  have  witnessed 
the  Indians  crossing  from  the  left  to  the  right  bank  of  the 
river,  and  returning  with  the  fruits  of  their  plunder  to  American 
soil ; second,  by  documents  collected  from  the  public  archives, 
in  all  the  towns  on  the  right  bank  of  the  river,  from  Reynosa 
and  the  lower  portion  of  said  river  to  “ Resurrection,”  one 
hundred  miles  above,  said  documents  being  corroborated  by 
archives  of  old  military  posts,  and  those  of  the  government  of 
the  States  referred  to ; third,  by  the  ofiicial  reports  of  the  mili- 
tary commanders  of  the  United  States,  advising  those  of  Mex- 
ico of  the  invasion  of  Comanches,  who  when  pursued  in  that 
republic,  or  even  watched,  crossed  over  into  Mexico ; fourth,  by 
the  permits  solicited  by  the  authorities  to  pursue  bands  of  Co- 
manches, who  after  having  committed  depredations  in  Texas 
took  refuge  in  Mexico,  to  do  as  much  or  still  greater  damage ; 
fifth,  by  reports  of  those  officers  of  the  reprisals  of  captives 
and  horses  stolen  in  Mexico  by  the  Indians,  the  captives  being 
generally  ransomed  in  the  United  States  by  the  troops  and 
citizens  of  that  republic;  sixth,  by  the  statements  of  Mexican 
captives  who  have  escaped  from  the  Indian  encampments,  or 
ransomed,  and  also  by  the  evidence  of  the  very  Indians  them- 
selves. 

Second.  The  immense  amount  and  value  of  the  articles 
stolen  or  destroyed  by  the  Indians  in  the  tliree  States  above  re- 
ferred to  is  incalculable,  and  this  fact  is  confirmed  by  official 
documents  and  the  unanimous  testimony  of  a thousand  wit- 
nesses, including  the  history  of  the  frontier  towns. 

Third.  The  robberies  and  murders  which  have  been  the 
result  of  these  depredations  have  been  committed,  not  only 
by  the  Comanches  and  other  northern  tribes,  but  also  by  some 
American  officials  and  private  citizens,  who  instigate  the  savages 
to  pillage,  by  purchasing  from  them  the  stolen  property  with  arms 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


383 


and  ammunition,  and  who  stimulate  them  bj  accompanying 
or  guiding  them  on  their  expeditions.  The  proof  of  this  may 
be  seen  : 1st.  In  the  history  of  the  Indian  nations,  written  by 
an  American  citizen ; 2d.  In  the  testimony  of  witnesses  who 
have  been  in  the  Indian  agencies  and  observed  the  illicit  traffic, 
which  has  been  continually  carried  on,  in  stolen  goods ; 3d. 
From  public  denunciations,  such  as  that  of  Mr.  Hittson  and 
the  Texas  press  in  general,  on  the  complicity  of  some  officials 
and  entire  towns  of  the  United  States,  in  the  robberies  and 
murders  committed  by  the  Indians. 

Fourth.  The  depredations  committed  in  Texas  may  be 
attributed  exclusively  to  tlie  reservation  Indians  and  various 
other  roaming  tribes  not  confined  to  the  reservations,  and  also 
to  hordes  of  criminals  who,  disguised  as  Indians,  have  invaded 
different  counties,  and  not  by  any  means  to  those  tribes  resid- 
ing in  Mexico,  who  have  had  no  participation  in  said  damages. 
The  evidence  of  this,  according  to  the  proofs  given,  is  as  fol- 
lows : 1st.  The  official  communications  of  the  American  au- 
thorities addressed  to  tlieir  superior  officers  and  to  those  of 
Mexico.  2d.  The  daily  press  commenting  on  the  operations 
of  the  American  and  Mexican  forces  against  the  savages,  wliose 
arms  they  described,  and  who  made  description  of  the  places 
invaded  by  them  in  pursuit  of  the  Indians,  thus  putting  their 
statements  beyond  a doubt.  3d.  The  unanimous  declarations 
of  American  and  Mexican  captives,  prisoners  of  the  Indians,  as 
well  as  those  of  the  residents  and  officers  of  the  forts.  4th  and 
lastly.  The  report  of  the  grand  jury,  who  stated  that  for  over 
five  years  a numerous  band  of  American  outlaws  had  been 
committing  the  atrocities  for  which  the  Kickapoos  and  Mexi- 
cans had  been  blamed. 


ROBBERY  OF  CATTLE  AND  HORSES. 

Having  explained  in  all  its  details  the  cause  of  the  compli- 
cations on  the  frontier,  and  accounted  for  the  robbery  of  cat- 
tle in  Texas  for  the  Mexican  market,  and  the  robbery  of 
horses  in  Mexico  for  the  United  States,  the  Commission  has 


384 


EEPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


but  little  more  to ‘add  upon  this  subject.  Another  mode  of 
stealing  cattle  and  horses,  not  considered  at  the  time  the  first 
report  was  rendered,  because  it  was  not  in  practice  at  the  points 
then  visited,  will  require  some  explanations. 

In  all  the  towns,  sufficient  data  were  collected  to  give  a 
thorough  knowledge  of  this  question.  In  every  locality  an 
investigation  was  made  as  to  whether  there  were  any  persons 
there  engaged  as  cattle  traders  who  went  to  Texas  and  brought 
cattle  for  consumption  in  that  or  other  towns,  and  the  result 
always  went  to  show  that  there  were  no  such  traders,  and  that 
the  cattle  introduced  into  Mexico  were  brought  there  by 
Americans,  who  frequently  pass  with  droves  for  Monterey  and 
Saltillo.  Mention  is  everywhere  made  of  those  speculators, 
who  live  at  “ San  Nicolas  de  los  Garzas,”  of  whom  it  has  been 
said  that  they  make  their  importations  byway  of  Nuevo  Laredo 
and  Piedras  Negras,  under  custom-house  documents  regularly 
registered. 

The  witnesses  mention  YSiViou?,  rancher  os  of  Leona,  Penden- 
cia,  Nueces,  and  other  points  of  Texas  as  the  principal  vendors ; 
they  specify  the  modes  of  making  the  sales,  drawing  up  the 
registers,  and  the  frauds,  which,  in  spite  of  the  strictest  watch- 
fulness, are  committed  by  these  rancheros  to  the  prejudice  of 
the  legal  owners  of  the  animals  exchanged  ; they  demonstrate 
tlie  barrier  which  the  use  of  the  register  presents  for  the  dis- 
covery of  theft,  which  is  consummated  under  protection  of  law 
and  the  force  of  habit  permitting  cattle  raisers  to  dispose  of 
animals  of  any  brands  whatever ; tliey  explain  how  many 
American  dealers,  in  order  to  avoid  the  registration,  which  is 
usually  made  in  the  place  where  the  inspector  resides,  accom- 
pany the  purchasers  to  the  bank  of  the  Rio  Grande,  and  aid 
them  to  pass  the  droves,  which  are  not  stolen  except  by  the 
vendors  themselves.* 

In  Guerrero  City  f there  are  persons  who,  since  1855, 
opened  the  cattle  trade  with  Texas,  and  who  furnish  interesting 


* See  “ Expeclientes,”  1,  2,  4,  and  6. 
f See  “ Expedientes,”  1,  2,  4,  and  5,  pp.  37  to  40. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


385 


information  relative  to  the  origin  of  this  branch  of  trafiBc.  They 
were  merchants  trading  in  national  goods  with  the  central  por- 
tion of  Texas.  An  inundation  of  the  Nueces  river  caused 
them  to  delay  their  journey,  and  in  the  “ ranchos  ” they  ex- 
changed their  merchandise  for  fat  cattle,  which  they  brought 
and  sold  in  Mexico  to  great  advantage.  This  fountain  of  profit- 
able commerce  once  discovered,  they  devoted  themselves  ex- 
clusively to  it,  and  have  continued  the  business  up  to  the 
present  date. 

Tliese  witnesses  are  too  well  known,  both  in  Mexico  and 
Texas,  for  their  integrity,  and  do  not  need,  in  order  to  be  be- 
lieved, that  their  evidence  be  substantiated  by  other  testimony. 
Nevertheless,  their  declarations  have  been  well  sustained ; and 
besides  enumerating  tlie  diverse  modes  of  stealing  practiced  by 
the  rancheros  at  the  branding  places,  and  in  the  sales  of  droves 
for  Kansas  and  Mexico,  which  droves  are  composed  of  animals 
of  different  owners,  they  contain  judicious  obseiwations  relative 
to  the  robberies  committed  for  the  Mexican  market,  placing 
the  number  at  a low  figure. 

Persons  well  acquainted  with  the  markets  of  Monterey  and 
Saltillo,  the  only  points  where  sales  of  cattle  can  be  eflTected, 
declare  that  the  thieves  would  not  be  able  to  find  purchasers 
for  large  numbers,  and  it  is  clear  that  without  the  incentive  of 
quick  and  easy  sales  robberies  would  not  be  perpetrated. 
Honest  traders,  having  maintained  constant  relations  with  the 
butchers  of  Monterey,  affirm  that  the  cattle  legally  imported  are 
quite  sufficient  for  the  consumption,  and  that  there  is  no  reason, 
therefore,  for  robberies  on  an  extensive  sgale. 

The  data  obtained  at  the  municipal  treasury  of  the  city  of 
Monterey,  prove  the  exactness  of  these  observations ; * it  is 
found  that  in  a period  of  ten  years,  the  consumption  of  cattle 
in  the  city  referred  to,  amounted  to  thirty-six  thousand  four 
hundred  and  seventy-two;  averaging  three  thousand  six 
hundred  and  forty-seven  head  of  cattle  a year. 

If  this  result  is  compared  f with  the  bills  issued  by 


* Expedientes  (Vouchers),  1,  2,4  and  6,  pp.  64  to  66. 
t Expedientes  (Vouchers),  1,  2,  4 and  6,  pp.  27,  28,  42,  43  and  60. 
25 


386 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


the  custom  houses  of  Guerrero,  Nuevo  Laredo  and  Piedras 
Negras,  it  will  be  seen  that  during  the  last  four  years  in  the 
two  former,  and  in  ten  months  in  the  latter  place,  there  were 
legally  imported  twenty-three  thousand  three  hundred  and 
forty-one  head  of  cattle,  which  is  equal  to  five  thousand  three 
hundred  and  thirty -five  a year,  corroborating  the  evidence  of 
the  traders  of  Guerrero  city,  and  showing  that  the  legal  im- 
portation furnishes  a full  supply  for  Monterey,  and  leaves 
enough  for  the  consumers  in  the  other  towns,  which  are  Saltillo 
and  Parras. 

If  we  consider,  as  is  the  truth  and  is  fully  proved  in  the  re- 
spective “ expedientes,”  that  a great  amount  of  the  consump- 
tion by  the  towns  referred  to  is  supplied  by  cattle  raised  in 
Tamaulipas,  in  Coahuila  and  in  Nuevo  Leon,  we  shall  see  that 
the  legal  importation  of  Texan  cattle,  according  to  the  custom 
house  permits,  covers  the  demands  of  the  markets,  and  the 
stolen  cattle  would  find  no  purchasers,  save  at  prices  so  low 
that  the  thieves  would  lack  all  incitement  to  commit  the  crime. 

Information  which  the  Commission  has  received  from  the 
towns  through  which  the  cattle  pass  on  their  way  south,  is  uni- 
form as  to  the  fact  that  the  cattle  drivers  make  periodical 
journeys  to  Monterey,  Saltillo  and  Parras  ; they  are  for  the 
most  part  Americans,  and  the  sales  they  make,  at  the  points 
where  they  stop,  are  insignificant  on  account  of  the  small  con- 
sumption, and  because,  as  they  express  it,  the  cattle  raisers  of 
the  vicinity  are  able  to  supply  the  demand. 

It  should  be  noted  * that,  amongst  the  reports  received, 
this  general  fact  is  testified  to  by  some  American  citizens  liv- 
ing on  the  frontier,  who  further  state  that  these  cattle  drivers 
have  been  frequently  pursued  by  Texans,  as  thieves,  and  that 
they  have  been  followed  as  far  as  Sabinas  Hidalgo. 

Bearing  in  mind  the  inelficacy  of  the  system  of  registering 
done  by  the  inspectors  in  Texas,  for  the  better  security  of  the 
proprietors,  who  never  receive  the  value  of  their  animals  regis- 
tered and  sold,  sometimes  because  the  marks  are  so  altered 
that  the  witnesses  can  easily  swear  unanimously,  sometimes 


Expedientes,  1,  2,  4 and  5,  pp.  11,  12,  16,  16,  169  and  170. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


387 


because  this  legal  requirement  is  omitted,  and  sometimes  for 
other  reasons,  it  will  be  no  exaggeration  to  affirm  that  of  the 
six  thousand  head  of  cattle  annually  imported  from  Texas  into 
Mexico,  live-sixths  of  the  number  are  stolen,  from  the  fact  that 
their  legal  owners  have  never  sold  them  ; but  this  is  the  system 
of  legal  robbery  practiced  in  Texas  for  many  years  since  the 
confederate  war,  as  is  stated  by  the  traders. 

That  this  is  the  true  cause  of  the  cattle  stealing,  has  been 
clearly  demonstrated  by  the  Commission  in  their  first  report 
through  the  enumeration  of  abuses,  each  one  of  which  was  thor- 
oughly investigated  by  means  of  testimony  from  competent 
wntnesses ; with  the  statistics  published  in  Texas  ; with  the 
records  of  the  criminal  courts,  and  with  the  articles  constantly 
prrblished  in  the  newspapers,  to  say  nothing  of  the  well  known 
and  notorious  acts  that  prove  conclusively,  so  to  speak,  the 
cause  of  the  diminution  of  the  cattle,  and  the  folly  of  attribut- 
ing the  same  to  a scheme  for  robbing,  organized  in  Mexico, 
to  supply  the  markets. 

The  movement  which  has  lately  been  put  into  operation  by 
the  cattle  raisers  of  Texas,  of  holding  a convention,  which  will 
open  its  session  on  the  3d  Xovember,  and  the  causes  which  have 
led  to  the  formation  of  their  society,  will  prove  a mortal  blow  to 
the  claimants  against  Mexico  on  account  of  cattle  stealing, 
and  be  a confirmation  of  the  correctness  of  the  judgment 
formed  by  the  Commission,  since  early  this  year,  as  to  the  true 
nature  and  importance  of  the  cattle  depredations. 

“ The  Western  Stock  Journal,”  a paper  organized  in  Texas 
for  the  defense  of  the  stock  raisers,^  issued  its  first  number 
in  Pleasanton,  Texas,  in  August  last,  and  IN’o.  20  of  the  issue, 
dated  September  16,  contains  an  exhortation  to  the  cattle 
raisers,  in  the  following  words  : 

“ At  the  last  meeting  of  The  Stock  Baisers’  Association  of 
Western  Texas,  they  passed  a resolution  to  hold  the  next 
regular  meeting  of  the  association  in  Pleasanton,  on  the  3d  of 
Isovember.  This  notice  has  been  put  in  possession  of  every- 


Cuaderno,  No.  8,  of  Vouchers,  p.  64. 


388 


REPORT  OF  COilMITTEE. 


one  from  the  coast  to  the  mountains,  and  from  the  Colorado 
to  the  Rio  Grande,  and  according  to  the  advices  we  have 
received,  the  decision  of  the  Assembly  has  been  adopted,  and 
those  interested  are  desirous  of  attending  the  sessions. 

“ It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  whole  west  will  be  vigorously 
represented  at  the  coming  sessions,  as  questions  of  the  greatest 
importance,  as  affecting  the  interests  of  stock  raisers  of  western 
Texas  will  be  fully  discussed  by  tlie  association,  and  on  the 
resolutions  of  that  body  will  depend,  in  great  part,  the  future 
success  of  the  cattle  business  in  our  country. 

“ The  custom  or  practice  of  selling  cattle  without  the  au- 
thority of  the  owner,  which  has  existed  for  a long  time  in  this 
country,  opening  the  door  to  abuses  which  have  caused  incal- 
culabic  injuries  to  the  interests  of  the  cattle  raisers,  ought  to  be 
stopped;  the  cattle  thieves  and  hide  purloiners  should  dis- 
appear, if  to  do  this  it  is  necessary  to  call  in  the  gallows  to 
enforce  the  rights  of  property,  even  though  this  be  only  cattle. 
It  is  also  essential  that  the  groh  game  should  cease,  if  we  do  not 
wish  to  renounce  the  prosperity  which  cattle  raising  promises. 

“ But,  in  order  to  accomplish  these  important  objects,  it 
is  indispensable  to  secure  unanimity  of  thought  and  action 
amongst  the  stock  raisers,  and  to  do  this  they  must  combine 
and  discuss  the  means  of  remedying  the  evil  before  applying 
them. 

“ Serious  fears  are  felt  that  there  is  an  impending  conflict 
between  the  stock  raisers  on  account  of  the  existing  evil  prac- 
tices, and  it  is  believed  that  there  will  soon  develop  a serious 
state  of  affairs.  When  they  meet  in  November,  the  stock 
raisers  will  be  in  position  to  calm  these  troubled  waters ; first, 
by  adjusting  their  own  differences,  grown  out  of  the  sales  of 
cattle,  quietly  and  fairly,  and  afterwards  agreeing  not  to  sell 
nor  interfere  with  any  but  their  own  cattle,  except  in  the  case 
of  having  a written  permission  from  the  owner  to  do  so.  Be- 
sides, the  stock  raisers  will  bind  themselves  to  prosecute  to  the 
last  extreme  any  infraction  of  the  law  relating  to  cattle,  remem- 
bering that  this  law,  properly  enforced,  is  sufiicient  to  protect 
the  interests  of  stock  raising  in  all  its  ramifications.  Unity  ot 
action  and  a rigid  obseivance  of  the  law  on  the  part  of  the 
stock  raisers  will  preserve  public  tranquility  and  achieve  the 
protection  and  security  which  their  interests  demand. 

“ If  the  association  unanimou.^ly  adopt  these  measures,  and 
ff  is  seen  that  the  stock  raisei-s  are  earnest  in  inaugurating  a 
more  equitable  mode  of  doing  business,  public  confidence  will 
be  restored  and  the  cattle  business  will  receive  a new  impulse 
which  will  elevate  it  to  a better  position  than  it  has  ever  before 
possessed.” 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


389 


After  three  years  of  unjust  and  irrational  complaints  against 
Mexican  thieves,  the  vicious  system  (“malpractice”)  which 
has  so  greatly  injured  the  interests  of  the  stock  raisers  of 
Texas  has  been  discovered;  they  condemn  the  custom  of  sell- 
ing cattle  without  the  consent  of  the  owner,  recognizing  the 
fact  that  by  this  means  the  door  was  left  open  to  a thousand 
abuses  which  have  occasioned  incalculable  injuries  to  the  pro- 
prietors ; they  see  that  immense  and  scandalous  frauds  have 
been  committed,  and  they  even  suggest  punishment  on  the 
gallows  to  those  who  commit  these  crimes  in  the  future. 

The  Commission  has  already  expressed  an  opinion  relative 
to  these  abuses,  which  they  discovered  through  the  investiga- 
tions practiced  by  them  in  Matamoros  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
past  year,  and  are  now  convinced  that  they  were  correct  in 
their  judgment,  since  the  whole  force  of  Texan  stock  raisers, 
through  their  organ,  “ The  Western  Stock  Journal^"'  so  declare 
by  the  important  confessions  they  make,  and  no  matter  what 
solution  the  association  of  stock  raisers  may  arrive  at  to  account 
for  the  grave  difficulties  they  are  about  to  consider,  they  have 
at  least  established  the  fact  of  the  disorder,  the  amount  of  the 
incalculable  losses  sustained  and  the  general  abuses  which  exist, 
from  their  own  confession,  from  the  “ coast  to  the  mountains, 
and  from  the  Colorado  to  the  Kio  Grande.” 

The  disorder  having  been  introduced  in  1861,  twelve  years 
of  constant  abuses  have  been  hardly  sufficient  to  furnish  a 
perfect  knowledge  of  the  causes,  and,  perhaps,  the  circumstance 
which  has  most  contributed  to  drawing  aside  the  veil  which 
concealed  them  has  been  the  coming  of  the  American  Com- 
mission. As  in  Texas  there  are  several  persons  acquainted  with 
the  source  cf  the  fortune  of  Richard  King  and  other  ranch- 
eros,  on  seeing  the  anxiety  with  which  many  presented 
themselves  to  register  injuries  they  had  never  sustained  in 
losses  of  cattle,  but  had  in  reality  caused  them  to  a great  num- 
ber of  their  neighbors,  the  attention  of  the  poor  men  of  Texas, 
who  are  numerous,  was  attracted  by  an  act  of  such  bare- 
facedness, and  from  thence  proceeded  the  reaction  which  has 
been  observed. 

It  is  true  that  the  estimates  of  damages  sustained  through 


390 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


the  loss  of  cattle  was  accepted  in  the  proportion  given  bj 
the  claimants,  and  attributed  to  bands  of  Mexican  criminals, 
and  that  such  fabulous  claims  were  presented  to  the  United 
States  Government,  through  the  report  of  its  Commission ; 
but  their  amount,  so  enormouslj  exaggerated,  and  the  causes 
assigned  by  the  claimants,  oftended  tlie  public  sense  of  justice  ; 
they  were  at  once  denounced,  classified  as  absurd,  and  peo- 
ple sought  other  causes  which  were  quickly  found. 

The  fears  entertained  that  conflict  mi^ht  ensue  on  account 

O 

of  the  abuses  committed,  reveal  the  existence  of  a great  and 
profound  evil,  and  there  are  symptoms  that  tranquility  will  be 
disturbed,  unless  they  who  have  introduced  the  evil  make  an 
eflfort  to  check  it ‘in  the  intei’est  of  the  future  of  business.  The 
honest  portion  of  the  stock  raisers  have  leagued  themselves 
against  the  dishonest  ones,  and  if  the  simple  initiation  of  their 
work  has  resulted  in  the  vindication  of  Mexico,  it  is  to  be 
hoped  that  a full  discussion  of  the  matter  will  lead  to  a full 
reparation. 

But  the  evils  which  seem  to  be  the  base-work  of  the  Stock 
Kaisers’  Association  of  Western  Texas,  are  not  the  worst 
phases  of  the  question,  and  probably  they  do  not  know 
all  their  details,  which  differ  according  to  the  localities  in 
which  the  frauds  are  perpetrated.  All  these  varieties  the 
Commission  have  carefully  weighed,  and  will  here  specify 
what  they  discovered  very  lately  in  the  county  of  Kerr. 
The  bandits  who  have  a refuge  there  dress  like  ludians,  when 
sallying  forth  to  rob  and  assassinate  in  all  directions ; and  they 
were,  under  this  disguise,  engaged  in  the  robbery  of  cattle 
and  horses.  The  jury  who  made  this  declaration  after  care- 
ful investigations,  did  not  include  it  in  their  report,  although 
it  was  not  doubted  that  the  persons  engaged  in  the  scan- 
dalous trade  with  Kew  Mexico  found  allies  in  the  banditti 
of  Kerr. 

The  present  condition  of  Kerr  county,  the  civil  authorities 
of  which  are  unable  to  defend  it  against  the  attacks  of  thieves 
and  murderers,  is  sufiicient  proof  of  the  truth  of  this  statement. 
The  “ Weekly  Express  of  October  2,”  from  that  county,  con- 
tains the  following  statement  :* 

* Cuaderno,  No.  8,  of  Vouchers,  p.  64. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


» 391 


“ For  several  years  Kerr  lias  been  the  point  of  union  of 
criminals,  who  are  compelled  to  flee  from  other  places,  and 
who  devote  themselves  there  to  their  profession.” 

In  view  of  this  condition  of  affairs,  a company  of  cavalry, 
by  command  of  General  Augur,  marched  to  Kerr  to  preserve 
peace,  b^ut  notwithstanding  this,  a correspondent  of  the  Daily 
Herald  wrote  from  that  county,  the  nest  of  criminals,  an 
article  published  August  20th,  as  follows  : * 

“ We  maintain  that  the  only  solution  to  the  question  of  the 
defense  of  the  frontier,  is  the  establishment  of  our  line  beyond 
the  Rio  Grande,  and,  if  necessary,  to  the  Sierra  Madre.” 

Previous  to  this,  on  the  7th  of  the  same  month,  the 
“ Weekly  Express,”  of  San  Antonio,  published  an  article  stat- 
ing that  the  counties  of  De  Witt,  Goliad,  Karnes,  Victoria  and 
others  were  infested  with  bands  of  robbers  and  highwaymenf  — 

“Because  the  authorities  are  incapable  of  restraining 
them.  And  what  do  we  see  in  Kerr  ? The  citizens  of  that 
place,  in  order  to  defend  their  lives  and  property,  are  compelled 
to  neglect  their  business  and  organize  themselves  into  com- 
panies of  militia.  What  a state  of  society  is  this ! Is  the  law 
a dead  letter?  In  some  other  parts  of  the  State,  the  court 
houses  have  been  burned  and  the  towns  pillaged  by  bands  of 
armed  criminals.” 

Some  time  later,  on  the  4th  September,  the  same  paper,  in 
referring  to  De  Witt  county,  remarked  that  thei’e  existed  there 
two  large  bands,  well  armed,  who  threatened  the  public  tran- 
quility, and  that  the  sheriff,  through  either  fear  or  inability, 
was  nnable  to  cope  with  them ; the  article  concluded  as  fol- 
lows : X 

“This  condition  of  things  is  not  peculiar  to  the  county  of 
De  Witt ; it  is  the  same  throughout  the  State,  and  is  the  result 
of  the  abolition  of  the  State  police.” 


■*  Cuaderno,  No.  8,  of  Vouchers,  p.  47. 
f Cuaderuo,  No.  8,  of  Vouchers,  p.  49. 
t Cuaderno,  No.  8,  of  Vouchers,  pp.  62  and  63. 


392 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


The  state  of  atfairs  described  by  the  newspapers  as  general 
throughout  the  State  of  Texas,  was  also  alluded  to  in  The 
Daily  Herald^  of  San  Antonio,  of  the  31st  of  May,  relating 
that  Martin  S.  Culver,  of  Corpus  Christi,  had  been  in  the  of- 
fice, on  that  date,  and  had  said  : * 

“ I am  the  bearer  of  sworn  afiidavits  and  statements  of  a 
great  many  of  the  most  honorable  persons,  showing  the  manner 
in  which  they  have  been  robbed,  not  hy  persons  nho  reside  on 
the  other  shore  of  the  Dio  Grande^  hut  hy  people  living  on  this 
side.  The  chief  of  the  band  conducted  a train  of  seven  cars 
in  which  the  hides  of  the  animals  they  had  stolen  were  openly 
conveyed  to  a rancho,  and  that  in  view  of  such  acts  it  was 
absurd,  to  even  suggest  that  the  thieves  came  from  Mexico.” 

About  the  same  time,  a band  of  Americans  and  Mexican 
Texans  t made  an  assault  on  Corpus  Christi,  according  to  a 
publication  in  the  Galveston  Dews  of  the  6th  of  July  last. 

Martin  S.  Culver,  one  of  the  claimants  against  Mexico,  be- 
fore the  American  Commission,  on  account  of  cattle  said  to 
have  been  stolen  by  the  Mexicans,  has  damaged  his  claim  by 
the  petition  which  he  has  presented  to  the  governor  of  Texas, 
asking  protection  against  the  thieves  who  live  in  Texas,  and 
not  in  Mexico ; he  must  be  aware  that  he  has  prejudiced  his 
own  claim  and  that  of  his  companions,  but  very  likely  pre- 
ferred this  to  seeing  his  ruin  consummated  by  the  legion  of 
banditti  who  were  quartered  there. 

Still  greater  disorders  have  occurred  in  other  counties.  In 
the  county  of  Dimmitt,  for  instance,  which  is  situated  on  the 
Rio  Grande,  north  of  Webb  and  south  of  Maverick,  the  in- 
habitants are  for  the  greater  part  thieves  and  murderers.  X 
The  stealing  of  horses  is  committed  by  them  in  the  most  bare- 
faced manner ; they  hire  escaped  prisoners  from  the  jails  in 
Mexico,  and  employ  them  in  stealing  horses  from  Mexico,  and 
not  content  with  this,  they  murder  the  Mexican  travelers  who 
stop  at  their  ranclios  to  sell  horses,  take  possession  of  the  ani- 


* Cuaderno,  No.  8,  of  Vouchers,  p.  68. 

•f  Cuaderno,  No.  8,  of  Vouchers,  p.  68. 
t Expedientes,  1,  2,  4 and  6,  pp.  102  to  173. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


393 


mals  and  enjoy  the  benefits  of  their  guilt  in  the  face  of  the 
populace,  who  are  well  aware  of  the  manner  in  which  such 
property  is  acquired. 

Some  of  these  bandits  have  crossed  over  into  Mexican  towns, 
contracted  for  valuable  horses,  and  the  owners,  on  going  to 
leave  the  animals  at  Carrizo,  Dim  mitt  county,  have  been  mur- 
dered. These  banditti  appear  as  claimants  against  Mexico  for 
large  sums  on  account  of  cattle  said  to  have  been  stolen  by 
Mexican  citizens  and  soldiery  directly  and  indirectly  under 
protection  of  the  Mexican  authorities.  The  investigations  pur- 
sued have  done  nothing  less  than  demonstrate  the  double  rob- 
bery which  the  inhabitants  of  Carrizo  have  been  indulging  in ; 
first  by  the  sale  of  animals  of  all  kinds  of  brands,  and  then, 
after  having  aided  in  the  transportation  of  cattle  across  the  Rio 
Grande  at  points  not  authorized  by  law,  they  receive  the  ani- 
mals again  as  stolen  property  whenever  the  Mexican  authori- 
ties have  voluntarily  rescued  them  from  the  thieves. 

It  has  been  said  of  these  inhabitants  of  Texas,  by  their 
fellow-citizens  * who  know  them  well,  and  are  acquainted  with 
their  habits  and  mode  of  living,  that  all  the  crimes  of  which 
they  are  accused  can  well  be  believed,  because  they  are  quite 
capable  of  any  crime  in  the  calendar.  They  were  the  first  who 
introduced  cattle  into  Mexico  for  sale,  and  they  are  the  ones 
who  have  continued  the  traffic.  The  fact  of  being  a stock 
raiser  in  Texas  is  a passport  for  robbery,  as  one  who  sells  ani- 
mals belonging  to  another  is  not  considered  a thief  provided  he 
is  also  an  owner,  and  nothing  is  more  frequent  than  the  sale  of 
large  lots  of  cattle  in  which  there  is  not  a single  animal  belong- 
ing to  the  vendor. 

It  is  an  old  habit  in  a certain  rancho  that  some  of  the  stock 
raisers  themselves,  or  the  Mexicans  whom  they  employ,  drive 
in  large  herds  of  cattle,  formed  of  animals  from  Leona,  Medina, 
Frio  and  las  Nueces,  and  divide  the  profits  after  the  sales  are 
made. 

It  has  been  frequently  observed,  that  when  the  thieves  have 
been  apprehended  with  cattle  stolen  from  the  above-named 


Espedientes,  1,  2,  4 A 5,  pp.  102  to  173. 


394 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


ranchos,"^  and  escaped  from  the  jails  in  Mexico,  they  seek 
refuge  in  the  aforementioned  county,  where  they  live  as 
herdsmen  to  the  stock  raisers,  notwithstanding  that  some  of 
these  very  stock  raisers,  on  recovering  the  stolen  cattle,  have 
seen  them  in  irons  in  the  prisons  of  Mexico.  ' 

These  acts,  which  are  referred  to  amongst  the  many  that 
have  been  proved  by  means  of  the  investigations  instituted  on 
the  right  bank  of  the  Rio  Grande,  are  sufficient  to  form  an 
idea  of  the  extent  of  the  demoralization  on  the  opposite  shore. 
Ror  is  there  any  intention  to  deny  that  it  also  exists,  in  a 
measure,  on  the  Mexican  bank  ; it  certainly  exists  in  the  ma- 
jority of  the  places,  but,  unlike  the  case  in  Texas,  criminals  do 
not  control  the  towns,  intimidate  the  action  of  justice,  nor  are 
the  headquarters  of  their  machinations  established  in  Mexico. 

It  has  already  been  shown  of  what  these  banditti  are  ca- 
pable. Kerr  county  alone,  whose  nearest  point  is  situated 
forty  leagues  from  the  Rio  Grande,  gives  ample  food  for 
thought  and  deep  reflection  in  the  late  horrible  acts  committed 
there,  not  only  on  account  of  the  criminality  of  the  principal 
actors,  but  because  of  the  demoralization  existing  amongst  the 
masses  of  the  people.  The  banditti  are  not  afraid  to  live 
amongst  them  ; on  the  contrary,  they  attended  the  investiga- 
tions of  the  jury  which  sat  in  the  case  of  Madison,  who  was 
murdered  in  order  that  his  house  might  be  appropi’iated  by  one 
of  the  chiefs  of  the  band  who  had  fancied  it.  So  great,  indeed, 
was  their  confidence  that  most  of  them  sent  for  their  families.f 
These  details  prove  that  there  were  intimate  relations  and  a life 
in  common  between  the  banditti  and  the  rest  of  the  inhabit- 
ants of  the  county,  where  they  first  engaged  in  the  stealing  of 
hides  and  the  transportation  of  cattle,  and  then  perpetrated 
other  atrocities  in  the  counties  of  Brown,  Medina,  Boerne, 
Sabinal,  Pedernales,  and  other  points,  it  having  been  clearly 
proved  that  for  five  or  more  years  they  had  been  committing 
these  depredations. 

The  same  person  who,  in  the  month  of  July,  informed  the 


* Expedientes,  1,  2,  4 <fe  6,  pp.  102  so  160. 
t Cuaderno,  No.  8,  of  Vouchers,  pp.  14,  15,  and  28. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


395 


Daily  Herald  * of  tlie  acts  of  the  banditti  whilst  disguised  as 
Indians,  wrote,  on  May  3 : “ that  there  had  been  incursions  of 
Kickapoos,  Lipans,  Seminoles,  &c.,  with  their  not  less  brutal 
allies,  the  Ilexican  Greasers^  to  whom  the  assassination  of  the 
Terry  family  was  attributed.”  This  family,  as  was  afterwards 
discovered,  and  reported  by  the  same  correspondent,  had  been 
sacrificed  by  the  disguised  banditti  who  infested  Kerr,  and 
who  were  not  in  reality  the  Kickapoos,  Lipans,  Seminoles  and 
their  allies  the  Mexican  Greasers.  Thus  is  truth  perverted,  and 
thus  she  punishes  those  who  belie  her,  discovering  their  guilt 
at  once,  condemning  them  out  of  their  own  mouths,  and  brand- 
ing them  as  inconsistent  and  destitute  of  common  judgment. 

And  in  order  to  make  the  calumny  more  glaring,  it  will  be 
well  to  copy  the  letter  which  this  same  writer  caused  to  be 
published,  on  the  17th  of  July  last,  two  months  after  he  had 
furnished  the  previous  information  : 

Up  to  the  present  it  has  been  almost  impossible  to  believe 
that  a great  part  of  the  depredations  attributed  to  the  Indians 
were  committed  by  white  men,  but  there  is  now  no  doubt 
whatever  upon  this  subject.  The  statement  of  young  Baker  is 
fully  corroborated.  A great  many  of  the  details  cannot  yet  be 
published,  but  from  what  is  already  known  it  would  seem  that 
these  banditti  do  not  number  less  than  from  fifty  to  seventy  in 
this  part  of  Texas.  The  atrocities  committed  by  them  under 
the  guise  of  Indians,  have  been,  numerous.  Our  readers  must 
recollect  the  murder  of  Mr.  Alexander  in  this  county  about  five 
years  ago ; the  assassination  of  the  daughter  and  grandchil- 
dren of  Mr.  Coe  in  Brown  county;  and  later,  that  of  the  Terry 
family,  near  Zanzemburg,  ten  miles  from  Kerville.  All  these 
murders  were,  at  that  time,  attributed  to  the  Indians  (and  as  it 
will  be  remembered,  to  the  Indians  resident  in  Mexico,  and  to 
their  allies,  the  Mexicans),  but  to-day  there  is  no  doubt  what- 
ever that  these  horrible  deeds  were  perpetrated  by  those  dis- 
guised, white  devils.” 

These  acts  described  by  the  same  person,  were  attributed  at 
one  time  to  the  Mexican  Indians,  because  it  suited  his  purpose 
to  do  so,  and  afterwards,  in  defense  of  the  truth,  to  the  real 


* Cuaderno,  No.  8,  of  Vouchers,  p.  14. 
f Cuaderno,  No.  8,  of  Vouchers,  p.  14. 


396 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


criminals.  He  gives  at  the  same  time  a sketch  of  the  horrible 
condition  of  things  on  the  Texan  frontier,  and  declares  that  all 
the  charges  against  Mexico  are  as  unfounded  as  those  of  the 
above  named  murders,  which  were  attributed  to  residents  of 
that  country. 

All  sense  of  justice  is  completely  ignored,  and  the  adminis- 
tration of  law  so  lax  that  one  of  tlie  bandits  of  Kerr,  at  the 
point  of  being  lynched,  “ cursed  those  who  had  not  perjured 
themselves  to  save  him.”  Another  asked  how  many  witnesses 
were  needed  to  establish  his  innocence,  and  this,  as  the  Herald 
naively  remarks,  needs  no  commentaries.* 

Whilst  the  Texan  frontier  was  being  devastated  by  the 
means  and  the  people  referred  to,  the  Mexican  frontier  was 
suffering  like  injuries  from  the  very  same  sources. 

The  relations  between  the  two  places  are  so  intimate  and 
so  closely  connected,  that  it  would  be  impossible  for  the  inju- 
ries suffered  by  the  one  not  to  be  felt  by  the  other.  And,  as  if 
to  make  the  evil  unendurable,  these  relations  are  based  upon 
the  poorest  kind  of  foundation,  consisting;  1st.  In  the  inequal- 
ity with  which  justice  is  meted  by  the  authorities  in  cases  of 
robbery  : the  Americans  invariably  urge  immediate  restoration 
of  cattle  stolen  in  Texas,  without  previous  investigation  as  to 
whether  the  same  have  been  transported  to  Mexico,  and  make 
it  a positive  obligation  on  the  part  of  the  Mexican  authorities 
to  recover  the  property  and  capture  and  punish  the  criminals. 
Quite  the  contrary  happens  when  the  Mexicans  reclaim  horses 
stolen  from  Mexico  ; no  attention  whatever  is  paid  to  these  de- 
mands, nor  are  the  proceedings  of  the  Mexican  authorities  in 
the  case  accepted  as  proof  of  the  act.  Action  taken  by  in- 
dividuals must  be  subject  to  the  laws  of  the  country,  and,  as 
every  one  knows,  proceedings  of  this  kind  are  expensive,  and  it 
generally  ends  by  the  owner  renouncing  his  rights  and  losing 
his  property. 

2d.  The  lack  of  reciprocity,  arising  from  the  different  cus- 
toms of  the  two  countries ; whilst  in  Mexico  official  warrants 
are  accepted  in  the  course  of  the  proceedings  which  may  be 


Cuaderno,  No.  8,  of  Vouchers,  p.  13. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


397 


had  in  a foreign  country,  the  United  States  rejects  them,  trust- 
ing to  the  investigations  made  by  its  consuls.  * * It  is  be- 

lieved that  this  practice  influences  the  conduct  of  the  Ameri- 
can authorities,  and  causes  them  to  reject  as  evidence  the 
warrants  of  the  Mexican  authorities ; holding  that  the  crime 
demands  a trial  in  the  place  where  the  stolen  property  and 
thief  are  found,  they  also  require  the  evidence  to  be  given  at 
such  place. 

The  Commission  flnds  no  other  rational  explanation  of  so 
irregular  a proceeding  as  that  practice  by  the  American  au- 
thorities without  exception,  no  matter  what  precedents  be  of- 
fered them,  notwithstanding  that  the  law  of  Texas,  as  has  been 
stated  above,  qualifles  as  theft  that  which  has  been  committed 
in  another  place,  even  though  it  be  in  a foreign  country. 

It  has  been  observed  that  the  Mexican  stock  raisers  on  the 
right  bank,  in  order  to  facilitate  somewhat  the  recovery  of 
their  stolen  animals,  are  compelled  to  register  their  brands  in 
Texas,  a circumstance  which  indicates  that  no  confidence  is 
given  to  the  certificates  of  the  Mexican  authorities.  Besides, 
that  nullifies  the  beneficial  effects  of  the  law  above  quoted, 
which  qualifies  as  theft  that  act  which  would  be  so  considered 
if  committed  in  Texas. 

Following  this  unequal  course,  the  proprietors  of  Texas 
have  greater  facilities  for  recovering  their  stolen  property, 
because  they  are  aided  by  the  civil  and  military  authorities, 
without  other  proofs  being  required  save  a notice  of  the 
robbery  and  a description  of  the  property.  The  Mexicans 
almost  always  lose  the  property  stolen  from  them. 

Since  the  year  1848,  after  immigration  commenced  in 
Texas,  the  losses  of  cattle  have  been  incalculable,  for  in  order 
to  stock  the  ranchos  they  stole  all  the  animals  from  Mexico. 
From  that  time,  when  the  stealing  of  horses  commenced 
which  exists  to  the  present  date,  there  has  evidently  been  no 
successful  effort  on  the  part  of  the  Texan  authorities  to  put  a 
stop  to  that  evil.  It  has  permeated  that  State  under  other 
favorable  causes,  and  helped  to  develop  the  principle  of 
immorality  which  has  been  fostered  for  years,  like  disease, 
and  spread  into  Mexico,  inciting  and' stimulating  the  robberies 


398 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


committed  there.  The  receivers  were  converted  into  thieves, 
and  that  explains  tlie  existing  question  of  the  stock  raisers. 
The  serious  discord  existing  amongst  them  arises  from  a 
pernicious  system,  allowing  the  appropriation  of  another’s 
property,  which,  as  a natural  and  logical  consequence,  gives 
room  for  the  illegal  traffic  of  these  men  with  the  thieves  of 
Mexico. 

The  first  case  of  cattle  robbery  which  presented  itself  in 
the  upper  part  of  the  Rio  Grande,  took  place  in  San  Felipe 
rancho,  Texas,  and  was  committed  by  Americans ; afterwards 
a few  of  the  residents  of  the  towns  in  the  district  of  Rio 
Grande  stole  from  the  same  rancho  some  cattle,  and  by  a 
simple  notification  of  the  act,  without  a warrant'  from  the 
owner,  the  commandant  ordered  the  apprehension  of  the  delin- 
quents, the  entering  of  suit  and  the  return  of  the  stolen  property, 
giving  immediate  notice  to  the  Governor  of  Ruevo  Leon  and 
Coahuila,  who  approved  the  resolution  and  action  taken,  and 
agreed  with  him  to  adopt  in  the  future  the  following  regula- 
tions : * 

First,  That  all  robbery  perpetrated  in  the  United  States, 
does  not  cease  to  be  such  because  the  stolen  property  is  con- 
veyed into  the  territory  of  Xuevo  Leon  and  Coahuila. 

Second,  An  act  of  this  kind  once  proved,  the  civil  authorities 
were  bound  to  proceed,  either  ex  officio  or  by  request  of  some 
person,  to  the  capture  of  the  thieves,  the  recovery  of  the  stolen 
property  from  the  person  with  whom  it  is  found,  and  who 
holds  it  either  as  deposit  or  by  purchase,  and  the  return  of  the 
same  to  its  owners  or  the  legal  representatives  thereof  who 
prove  ownership. 

Third,  The  delinquents  to  be  sent  to  the  capital  of  the 
Government. 

Fourth,  "When,  through  default  of  proofs,  proceedings  are 
instituted  against  suspected  parties,  a brief  of  the  proceedings 
{acta)  must  be  drawn  and  sent  with  the  accused  to  the  capital. 

Fifth : In  respect  to  property  stolen  in  the  State,  and  con- 
veyed to  the  opposite  shore  of  the  Bravo,  like  proceeding  will 


* Cuaderno,  No.  14,  of  Vouchers,  p.  51. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


399 


be  instituted  against  the  culprits,  according  to  the  spirit  of  the 
preceding  regulations,  reserving  to  the  interested  parties  the 
right  to  recover  the  stolen  property  in  a neighboring  State,  by 
any  means  which  is  possible,  although  the  authorities  cannot 
act  ex  officio  in  this  respect.  Nevertheless,  they  can  furnish  to 
the  parties  the  certificates  or  documents  necessary  to  establish 
the  fact  of  the  injuifies  received. 

In  issuing  these  regulations,  the  Governor  took  care  to  ex- 
press that  they  referred  to  the  robberies  being  perpetrated,  with 
scandalous  effrontery,  on  both  shores  of  the  Rio  Bravo,  the 
stolen  goods  consisting  principally  of  horses  and  cattle,  which 
were  publicly  sold  on  either  shore,  in  utter  heedlessness  of  the 
crime,  which  was  no  less  one  because  they  crossed  the  lines 
with  the  goods. 

It  was  also  set  forth  that  the  crime  was  in  its  infancy,  and 
that  on  account  of  the  pernicious  effects  likely  to  result  from 
it  it  was  necessary  to  suppress  it  in  the  beginning.  The  draft 
of  these  regulations  is  alone  sufficient  to  show  opposition  of  the 
Mexican  authorities  to  the  depredations  committed  in  Texas. 
When  in  the  exercise  of  ample  authority,  such  as  the  govern- 
ment at  that  time  enjoyed,  every  effort  was  made  to  prosecute 
the  criminals,  who,  be  it  remembered,  appeared  simultaneously 
with  the  Confederation.  Such  was  the  zeal  of  the  authorities 
that  excesses  ensued  ; they  trampled  all  tutelary  forms  of  jus- 
tice, forced  judgments  from  judges  competeiit  to  act,  and 
in  the  abhorrence  of  the  crime  and  the  criminals,  they  consti- 
tuted themselves  defenders  of  the  interests  of  Texas,  without 
caring  for  or  expecting  reciprocity. 

The  Mexican  authorities  have  latterly  employed  their  ener- 
gies, under  various  regulations,  to  put  a stop  to  this  most 
scandalous  traffic.  The  arrest  of  various  parties  along  the 
line  from  Guerrero  to  Resurrection,  and  the  punishment  of 
some  of  the  thieves,  is  the  fullest  demonstration  that  they 
know  how  to  fulfill  their  duties,  and  this  is  the  more  conspic- 
uous, when  it  is  reflected  that  neither  the  Texan  rancheros  nor 
the  United  States  troops  have  arrested  any  thieves,  notwith- 
standing that  they  might  have  easily  done  so,  from  the  knowl- 
edge they  must  necessarily  possess  of  their  grazing  lands,  and 


400 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


because  of  the  time  and  labor  employed  by  the  thieves  to  col- 
lect a herd  of  fat  animals,  which,  as  is  well  known,  are  not 
always  to  be  found  togethev. 

Tliese  and  other  circumstances  enumerated  by  the  wit- 
nesses, and  the  fact  that  the  Mexican  authorities  gave  spon- 
taneous information  of  the  places  selected  in  Texas*  for 
collecting  the  herds,  and  the  passes  of  the  river  likely  to 
be  used  in  their  transportation,  which  information  the  stock 
raisers  of  Carrizo,  Dim  mitt  county,  never  availed  themselves 
of,  leave  room  for  belief  that  it  is  with  their  concurrence  and 
participation  that  the  robberies  are  committed. 

In  order  to  present  at  a glance  a practical  demonstration,! 
so  to  express  it,  of  the  groundlessness  of  the  charges  against 
the  authorities  in  regard  to  the  cattle  stolen,  the  Commission 
have  caused  to  be  made  a map  showing  the  course  of  the  Rio 
Grande,  from  its  mouth,  in  the  Gulf,  to  San  Vicente,  a point 
on  the  boundary  between  Coahuila  and  Chihuahua,  a distance 
of  about  two  hundred  leagues.  Men  well  versed  and  familiar 
with  the  country  have  determined  the  localities  of  the  ranchos 
on  both  banks  of  the  river,  the  distances  between  them,  the 
passes  of  the  river  at  ordinary  times,  the  points  at  which  there 
are  ferries  or  boats  or  other  means  of  crossing,  and  finally  the 
moorage  on  the  margin  of  the  river.  The  ranchos  are  so  situ- 
ated on  either  bank  that  if  there  existed  good  police  regula- 
tions, and  these  were  vigilantly  executed,  the  inhabitants  might 
be  maintained  in  peace  and  security.  The  fact  that  for  a great 
distance  along  the  bank  of  the  river  the  ranchos  are  in  such 
close  proximity  that  one  can  be  seen  from  the  other,  added  to 
the  certainty  that  it  is  at  these  points  that  the  robberies  are 
oftenest  committed,  compels  one  to  believe  that  there  is  great 
neglect  either  in  the  enforcement  of  the  laws,  or  the  framing  of 
such  as  would  most  effectually  put  a stop  to  these  abuses. 

In  the  course  of  their  investigations,  the  Commission  placed 
this  latter  supposition  beyond  a doubt,  since  in  Texas  every  one 
is  at  liberty  to  kill  cattle  in  the  pastures  without  being  com- 


* Expedientes,  1,  2,  4 and  6,  pp.  146  and  14'?. 
f See  foregoing  “ ExpedUntes,”  pp.  74  to  2G1. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


401 


pelled  to  notify  the  authorities,  a circumstance  which,  from  an 
exaggerated  respect  for  the  rights  of  property  and  individual 
liberty,  has  given  rise  to  the  existing  disorders.  They  would 
be  difficult  to  occur  in  Mexico  on  account  of  the  excellent 
police  regulations,  which,  although  observed  only  partially, 
serve  to  maintain  a degree  of  established  order. 

If,  furthermore,  it  be  observed  that  the  boats  across  the 
river  are  for  the  greater  part  in  possession  of  tlie  raix- 
cheros  residing  in  Texas,  and  that  generally  these  vessels  have 
to  be  employed  in  the  transpoiTation  of  the  cattle,  it  being 
a slow  and  difficult  proceeding  to  make  them  swim,  it  cannot 
but  be  admitted  that  the  frequent  robberies  which  occur  could 
never  take  place  except  through  the  carelessness  or  connivance 
of  the  Texans  with  the  thieves.  Both  exist,  and  greatly  con- 
tribute to  the  perpetration  of  the  crime,  and  account  for  the 
fact  that  the  arrest  of  thieves  in  Texas  is  so  rare. 

The  difficulties  arising  out  of  the  robbery  of  cattle  and 
horses,  it  will  be  seen,  are  reciprocal,  and  have  their  points  of 
contact,  for  it  not  iinfrequently  happens  that  the  ones  are  ex- 
changed for  the  others.  The  ranchos  of  Texas  swarming  with 
fugitive  servants  from  Mexico,  whose  habits  and  inclinations 
are  not  of  the  best,  have  always  fostered  an  element  of  de- 
moralization which,  added  to  that  already  existing  in  Texas, 
has  caused  evils  on  either  bank  of  the  river.  The  Mexican 
shore  has  suffered  a triple  loss : in  the  absence  of  men,  con- 
sidered as  an  instrument  of  labor  ; in  the  capital,  which  at  the 
time  of  his  flight  the  servant  owes  his  master  (a  positive  loss  of 
capital),  for  in  order  to  secure  the  services  of  these  men  it  is 
necessary  to  advance  their  salaries ; and  lastly,  through  the 
depredations  committed  by  these  men,  who  after  their  flight 
dedicate  themselves  to  the  theft  of  horses  from  the  grazing 
lands  with  which  they  are  well  acquainted,  in  order  to  dispose 
of  the  animals  to  speculators,  who  purchase  the  stolen  goods 
without  scruple,  and  even  hire  these  men  to  commit  the  crime. 

The  immense  losses  suffered  by  the  Mexican  frontier, 
through  the  flight  of  servants,  may  be  computed  at  over  one 


26 


402 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


million  a year.*  The  result  of  the  information  collected  in 
Nuevo  Leon  and  Coahuila,  authorizes  the  fixing  of  this  amount. 

From  less  than  one  half  of  the  municipalities  of  the  two 
States  referred  to,t  which  have  furnished  data  upon  this  matter, 
there  appears  to  have  fled  into  Texas,  since  1848  to  the  present, 
two  thousand  eight  hundred  and  twelve  servants,  who  have 
transported  thither  their  families  numbering  two  thousand 
flve  hundred  and  seventy-two  persons.  The  liabilities  of  two 
thousand  and  twenty-eight  of  these  fugitives  from  proprietors 
of  Nuevo  Leon,  amount  to  a sum  of  two  hundred  and  fifty -flve 
thousand  nine  hundred  and  ninety-five  dollars  and  eighty  cents 
($255,995  80),  and  that  of  the  others,  who  are  from  Coahuila, 
amount  to  one  hundred  and  twenty-three  thousand  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  dollars  and  twenty  cents  ($123,120  20). 

Nearly  half  a million  of  dollars  of  actual  loss;  but  it  is 
not  so  much  the  loss  of  money  that  attracts  the  attention  of 
the  Commission,  as  that  of  labor  to  places  where  the  popula- 
tion is  sparse,  the  lack  of  men  being  a loss  of  capital  to  the 
country,  considered  as  they  are  instruments  of  labor. 

Dr.  Engel,  a famous  German  statistician,  calculates  that  it 
requires  the  sum  of  one  thousand  one  hundred  and  twent}’- 
five  dollars  to  place  a person  of  either  sex  in  a condition  to  be- 
come a producer.  If,  under  this  rule,  an  estimate  is  made  of 
the  amount  lost  by  the  Mexican  frontier,  including  the  debts 
of  the  fugitives,  we  have  a sum  of  fifteen  millions  four  hun- 
dred and  twenty-nine  thousand  six  hundred  and  twenty-three 
dollars  ($15,429,623),  an  amount  which  does  not  include  any 
elements  except  those  which  ought  to  be  considered  and  which 
refers  to  the  double  character  of  producers  and  consumers 
borne  by  the  five  thousand  two  hundred  and  eighty-four  per- 
sons emigrating  from  Mexico,  to  escape  the  labor  to  which  they 
were  in  duty  bound. 

The  United  States,  whose  prosperity  is  in  a great  measure 
accountable  to  this  personal  capital  or  labor  furnished  by 
other  countries  to  augment  its  wealth,  cannot  have  benefited 


* Cuaderno,  No.  9,  of  Vouchers,  pp.  1 to  108. 
f Cuadoruo,  No.  9,  of  Vouchers,  pp.  1 to  108. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


403 


■much  by  that  acquired  from  Mexico,  for,  unfortunately,  they 
bring  with  tliein  a vicious  element  which,  added  to  that  of  tlie 
floating  population  congregated  there  from  all  parts  of  the 
woi’ld,  and  composing  a considerable  mass  of  the  inhabitants, 
imperils  the  preservation  of  good  habits  of  order  and  peace, 
as  is  demonstrated  by  the  existing  demoralization  in  the  State 
of  Texas. 

The  fugitive  servants  referred  to  are  for  the  most  part 
criminals,  for  they  always  steal  before  fleeing  or  have  already 
been  prosecuted  for  other  crimes,  and  it  is  only  reasonable  to 
suppose  that  in  the  United  States,  where  they  take  refuge,  they 
do  not  maintain  any  better  conduct.  These  criminals  and 
others  of  another  class,  especially  the  cattle  thieves  who  have 
managed  to  escape,  all  reside  in  Texas,  having  a permanent  or 
transitory  nationality  in  the  United  States,  and  in  the  crimes 
they  commit,  as  is  clearly  shown,  neither  the  inhabitants  nor 
the  authorities  of  Mexico  can  take  any  part.  The  evil  is 
plainly  the  result  of  a lack  of  good  police  regulations  which 
would  impede  the  combination  of  evil  disposed  persons  such 
as  the  classes  above  mentioned. 

Freedom  of  labor  having  been  established  as  a constitu- 
tional principle,  the  institution  of  servants^  once  a specialty 
and  considered  necessary  on  the  frontier,  cannot  to-day  be  sus- 
tained, nor  would  it  be  advisable,  either  morally  or  econom- 
ically considered.  But  the  annoyances  endured,  and  the  evils 
involved  are  of  the  most  paramount  interest  to  both  frontiers, 
as  regards  the  peace  and  harmony  of  each.  The  matter  de- 
serves consideration,  and  a stop  should  be  put  to  the  abuses,  by 
laws,  which  properly  enforced,  would  close  the  door  to  the  sys- 
tem of  roaming,  which  is  indulged  in  by  the  people  of  the 
States  of  Nuevo  Leon,  Coahuila  and  Tamaulipas,  towards  the 
frontier  of  Texas. 

The  institution  of  field  labor  having  undergone  a radical 
change,  by  action  of  law  and  a better  knowledge  of  true 
economy,  the  old  system  is  fast  disappearing.  Whilst  this 
change  is  taking  place,  the  energies  of  the  authorities  should 
be  employed  in  causing,  directly  or  indirectly,  the  return 
of  servants,  by  means  of  extradition,  when  they  have  com- 


404 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


initted  robberies  or  other  crimes,  and  by  the  collection  of  debts 
in  Texas.  This  last  might  be  effected  throngh  the  public 
agents  charged  with  facilitating  extradition,  agreeably  to  the 
principles  proposed  by  the  Commission. 

"When  it  will  be  known  to  the  fugitives  that  Texas  is  no  lon- 
ger a place  of  refuge  where  they  can  flee  with  impunity,  after 
swindling  their  creditors,  the  tide  of  emigration  will  be  dimin- 
ished on  the  part  of  men  who,  by  their  habits  of  idleness,  are 
no  less  pernicious  to  the  State  of  Texas  than  to  the  frontier  of 
Mexico,  and  beneflcial  effects  will  be  enjoyed  by  all  parties 
through  the  advantageous  measures  which  may  be  adopted,  to 
produce  this  result. 


A BKIEF  SKETCH  OF  THE  IKDIAK  TEIBES  WHICH 
HAVE  LIVED  IK  MEXICO. 

It  having  been  affirmed  in  a public  document  that  the 
Kickapoos,  Lipans,  Seminoles,  Carrizos,  and  other  tribes  were 
sheltered  in  Coahuila  and  Chihuahua,  and  enabled  thereby  to 
invade  Texas  with  impunity,  this  Commission  undertook  to 
collect  from  the  archives  all  the  information  to  be  found  con- 
cerning the  said  tribes,  knowing  that  the  propagators  of  such 
statements  could  be  satisfactorily  refuted,  inasmuch  as  the 
Kickapoos  only  of  the  above  mentioned  Indians,  have  ever 
lived  in  Mexico. 

Valuable  information  communicated  by  General  Augur,  in 
command  of  the  Department  of  Texas,  to  the  American  Bor- 
der Commission,  proves  the  fact  of  Indian  depredations  in 
Texas,  along  the  whole  line  of  the  Bio  Grande  to  Faso  del 
Korte;  but  as  that  Commission  did  not  visit  the  regions  which 
suffered  such  evils,  it  declared  the  evidence  to  be  imperfect. 
It  nevertheless  deemed  the  data  sufficient  foundation  for  a 
charge  against  Mexico,  which  is  found  in  the  report  of  the  said 
Commission,  rendered  to  its  government  on  the  10th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1872. 

In  order  to  ascertain  the  facts  concerning  the  Carrizo 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


405 


Indians,  and  the  otliers  who  were  said  to  have  their  hiding- 
places  in  Mexico,  and  to  use  them  as  points  of  departure,  and 
of  asylum  in  the  perpetration  of  inroads  upon  Texas,  this 
Commission  has  spared  no  labor,  and  has  sought  for  the  truth, 
rather  in  documents  of  ancient  date,  than  in  the  evidence  of 
witnesses. 

These  researches  were  commenced  by  examining  the 
archives  of  Reynosa,  and  it  was  fully  ascertained,  that  not  a 
single  one  of  the  tribes  mentioned,  had  any  existence  in  that 
district. 

The  Carrizos  weTe  the  original  inhabitants  of  that  region, 
when  it  was  discovered  and  occupied  by  the  Spanish  Govern- 
ment. They  were  formed  into  missions,  were  partially  civil- 
ized, and  became  the  basis  of  the  population  of  the  present 
towns  along  the  Rio  Grande.  Very  few  individuals  of  the 
tribe  persisted  in  maintaining  the  customs,  language  and  name 
of  the  tribe ; but  even  these  have  disappeared,  and  their 
descendants  ai'e  now  blended  with  the  mass  of  the  population 
in  all  the  towns  on  the  right  bank  as  far  as  Guerrero.  They 
are  employed  chiefly  as  domestic  servants,  for  which  they  are 
in  great  request  on  account  of  their  proverbial  honesty.  Evi- 
dence obtained  at  Caraargo  fully  confirmed  these  facts,  and 
documents  were  found,  which  put  an  end  to  all  question  on 
the  subject. 

In  1857,  the  Governor  of  Ruevo  Leon  having  received 
complaints  against  the  Carrizos,  as  being  the  perpetrators  of 
the  depredations  suffered  that  year  at  Agualeguas  and  Cerralvo, 
transmitted  them  to  the  authorities  of  Mier  and  Camargo  in 
Tamaulipas.  The  reply  made  from  the  latter  point,  under 
date  of  August  5th,  contained  the  following  statement : 

“ If  your  excellency  was  surprised  to  hear  that  this  class  of 
Indians  had  committed  the  ravages  generally  attributed  to  the 
Comanches  and  Lipans,  how  great  must  have  been  my  surprise 
on  reading  your  communication,  since  1 positively  know  that 
the  said  tribe  known  as  Carrizos  in  the  time  of  the  missions, 
became  extinct  several  years  ago ; their  descendants  having 
abandoned  the  manners,  customs  and  peculiar  language  of  the 
tribe,  and  become  blended  with  the  people  at  large.  Your 
excellency  may  therefore  rest  assured,  that  you  have  been 


406 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


incorrectly  informed,  concerning  the  supposed  Indians  residing 
hereabouts,  and  it  is  scarely  credible  that  the  enemies  of  peace 
should  employ  such  wicked  means  for  stirring  up  discord.” 

This  paragraph,  written  in  1857,  is  the  most  convincing 
reply  that  could  be  made  to  the  accusation  made  sixteen  years 
later  by  the  American  Commission.  The  Judge  of  Camargo 
could  scarcely  believe,  in  1857,  that  the  Carrizos  were  accused, 
inasmuch  as  they  had  not  existed  for  many  years,  and  he 
lamented  that  any  hearing  had  been  given  to  persons  who 
wanted  only  a pretext  for  stirring  up  discord.  What  can  be 
said  now  of  those  wdio  present  similar  charges?  The  same  as 
was  then  said  by  the  Judge  of  Camargo,  i.  e.,  that  enemies  of 
public  peace  and  the  fraternity  of  nations  are  employing  per- 
verse means  for  accomplishing  their  objects.  The  complain- 
ants might  also  be  invited  to  come  and  point  out  the  Indians 
whom  they  accused,  which  would  be  impossible,  because  they 
do  not  exist. 

The  Commission  wished  to  carry  the  investigation  to  an  ex- 
treme, although  it  was  no  longer  necessary,  and  it  obtained  the 
same  result  at  Mier  and  Guerrero.  The  tribe  of  Carrizos  did 
not  exist ; it  had  disappeared,  and  its  descendants  testified  to 
this  fact  before  the  Commission  at  Guerrero. 

The  Carancahuases,  Indians  from  Texas,  were  mentioned  at 
Reynosa  by  some  witnesses,  who  testified  that  this  tribe  had 
been  driven  into  Mexico  by  American  troops  since  1848,  and 
had  obtained  an  asylum.  In  1688  this  tribe  lived  on  the  Bay 
of  Espiritu  Santo,  where  it  was  found  by  the  governor  of  Coa- 
huila,  Don  Alonso  de  Leon,  when,  by  order  of  the  Viceroy  of 
Mexico,  he  marched  with  troops  to  that  point  to  drive  away 
the  French,  who  liad  gained  a footing  there.  It  was  found 
that  these  Frenchmen  had  already  been  massacred  by  the 
Carancahuases,  who  remained  in  the  same  region  even  after 
the  colonization  of  Texas  by  Don  Jose  Valdivielso,  Marquis  of 
San  Miguel  de  Aguayo,  who,  in  1719,  penetrated  as  far  as  Red 
river,  the  boundary  between  Texas  and  Louisiana.  The  colony- 
brought  soon  after  by  the  marquis  from  the  Canary  Islands  did 
not  disturb  these  Carancahuases,  otherwise  called  Tampacuases. 

These  Indians,  few  in  number  when  Texas  ceased  to  belong. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


40T 


to  Mexico,  were  driven  thence,  and  were,  in  1852,  located 
within  the  jurisdiction  of  Eeynosa  at  “ La  Mesa  ” and  other 
points.  Yielding  to  the  habits  of  their  vagabond  life,  they  soon 
manifested  their  inclination  to  plunder,  obliging  the  authorities 
of  that  town  to  organize  troops  and  reduce  them  to  order. 
General  Avalos  interfered  in  the  case  by  virtue  of  instructions 
from  the  general  government,  took  them  under  his  protection, 
and  removed  them  to  the  center  of  Tamaulipas,  not  far  from 
Burgos.  There  they  gave  occasion  to  dispute  between  the 
governments  of  Nuevo  Leon  and  Tamaulipas,  which  led  to 
their  being  carried  back  to  their  former  place  of  residence  near 
Eeynosa.  Being  again  attacked  on  account  of  robberies,  the 
tribe  removed  to  Texas,  and  on  the  26th  of  October,  1858,  the 
judge  of  Eosario  sent  the  following  report  to  the  mayor  of 
Eeynosa : 

“ In  pursuance  of  your  orders  of  the  23d  instant,  for 
the  arrest  of  the  Carancahuases,  1 took  measures  for  that  pur- 
pose, but  finding  that  they  are  now  on  the  left  bank  of  the 
Eio  Grande,  beyond  the  limits  of  my  authority,  at  the  place 
called  ‘ Uresteua,’  I informed  the  authorities  at  Eosario  and 
Banon,  to  the  end  that  they  on  the  American  side  and  we  on 
this  side  may  combine  for  their  arrest,  since,  besides  the  horses 
they  have  carried  off,  they  have  committed  other  robberies  at 
La  Mesa.  With  the  inhabitants  of  this  district,  I have  ex- 
plored all  this  region  in  tlieir  pursuit.” 

The  history  of  these  Indians  terminates  with  an  attack  made 
upon  them  in  the  said  year  1858  by  Juan  N.  Cortina,  then  a 
citizen  of  Texas,  along  with  other  rancheros,  when  they  were 
surprised  at  their  hiding  place  in  Texas,  and  were  exterminated. 

These  Carancahuases  were  undoubtedly  the  “ other  Indians  ” ’ 
refei’red  to  by  the  American  commission  in  connection  with  the 
Lipans,  Kickapoos,  Seminoles  and  Carrizos.  They  were  the 
only  ones  known  in  Tamaulipas  of  whom  information  could  be 
had  at  Brownsville,  and  the  accuracy  of  such  information  may 
now  be  readily  inferred. 

Shortly  after  the  establishment  of  the  military  colonies,  in 
1850,  certain  Seminoles,  Kickapoos  and  Muscogees  presented 
themselves  in  the  district  of  Eio  Grande,  in  the  State  of  Coa- 


40S 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


Iluila,  soliciting  lands  on  Avhich  to  settle,  since  they  truly 
affirmed  that  the  Americans  had  appropriated  their  own  lands. 
The  sub-inspector  of  colonies  reported  the  fact  to  his  immediate 
superior,  and  the  latter  signed  on  the  26th  of  July  an  agree- 
ment by  which  the}’  were  given  lands  on  tlie  rivers  San  Eodrigo 
and  San  Antonio,  of  equal  extent  to  those  usually  set  apart  for 
colonies,  and  in  recompense  they  promised  their  services 
against  the  savages,  upon  the  same  conditions  as  the  Mexican 
colonists.  The  rights  of  citizenship  were  to  be  conferred  upon 
them  upon  renunciation  of  American  nationality. 

During  the  same  year,  by  direction  of  the  Department  of 
Foreign  Affairs,  the  compact  was  amended  by  adding  the  fol- 
lowing clauses,  as  obligations  of  the  Indians  : 

“ 1st.  To  obey  the  authorities  and  observe  the  laws  of  the 
republic.  2d.  To  preserve  harmony  with  the  nations  friendly 
to  Mexico.  3d.  To  prevent  in  every  possible  way  the  Coman- 
ches  and  other  barbarous  nomadic  tribes  from  making  their 
inroads  through  the  region  they  inhabit;  to  punish  and  pursue 
them  in  case  of  invasion.  -Ith.  To  have  no  traffic  with  the 
barbarous  tribes.  5th.  To  preserve  the  best  harmony  with  the 
citizens  of  the  United  States  of  America,  in  accordance  with 
the  treaties  of  peace  between  that  republic  and  Mexico.” 

These  conditions  were  annexed  to  the  favors  extended  by 
the  government  to  the  Seminoles,  Kickapoos  and  Muscogees, 
were  read  and  explained  in  presence  of  the  officers  of  the 
colonies  to  the  chiefs  of  the  said  tribes,  and  were  accepted  by 
all  of  them,  after  which  they  received  gratuities  from  the  in- 
spector, and  were  promised  the  lands  they  had  solicited. 

It  appears  by  a communication  dated  the  llth  of  July, 
1851,  from  the  sub-inspector  of  the  colonies,  that  the  Kickapoos 
had  committed  an  act  of  treachery  by  suddenly  withdrawing 
from  a campaign  which  they  were  making  along  with  regular 
troops  against  the  Comanches,  robbing  at  the  same  time  the 
horses  recaptured  from  the  savages.  Being  then  located  at 
“ Tulillo,”  they  crossed  to  the  left  bank,  instigated  by  the  peo- 
ple at  Eagle  Pass.  Of  the  large  number  of  Kickapoos  who  the 
year  before  had  sought  the  hospitality  of  Mexico,  there  only 
remained  nine  men,  seven  women  and  four  children  under  the 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


409 


command  of  the  chief  Papicua,  who  reported  the  robberies 
committed  by  the  remainder  of  the  tribe  from  their  new  loca- 
tion on  American  soil.  Colonel  Maldonado,  the  snb-inspector 
of  the  colonies,  lost  no  time  in  transmitting  these  facts  to  the 
commander  of  the  American  forces  at  Fort  Duncan,  invoking 
all  the  stipulations  of  the  treaty  of  Guadalupe,  but  in  vain. 
The  American  authorities  took  no  measures,  and  the  Kickapoos 
continued  their  depredations. 

The  lands  set  apart  for  the  Indian  emigrants  were  on  the 
risht  bank  of  the  Rio  Grande,  but  the  events  above  mentioned 
showed  that  it  was  inexpedient  for  the  Seminoles,  Muscogees 
and  the  nine  Kickapoos  to  continue  to  occupy  them,  the  neigh- 
borhood of  the  United  States  being  dangerous  in  every  respect. 
The  remaining  tribes  were  therefore  persuaded  to  remove  to 
the  mountains  of  Santa  Rosa,  thirty  leagues  to  the  westward. 

The  Seminoles  and  Muscogees  undoubtedly  found  the  new 
location  an  advantageous  one,  for  the  next  year,  in  July,  1852, 
Wild  Cat,  chief  of  the  Seminoles,  and  Papicua,  chief  of  the 
remnant  of  the  Kickapoos,  were  in  the  city  of  Mexico  soliciting 
as  a reservation  the  locality  called  “ Kacimiento,”  which  was 
granted  them  under  a new  compact  celebrated  with  the  War 
Department,  as  also  a similar  reservation  in  Durango,  in  re- 
compense for  the  good  service  they  had  begun  to  render  in  the 
war  against  the  savages.  Papicua  settled  near  Villa  Morelos, 
where  he  devoted  himself  to  agriculture,  and  finally  died. 

As  to  the  Seminoles  we  will  now  briefly  narrate  their  his- 
tory and  comportment  in  Mexico  up  to  the  time  when  they 
all  returned  to  the  United  States.  While  the  chiefs  of  the 
Seminoles  and  Muscogees  were  negotiating  in  Mexico  for  their 
grants  of  land,  several  parties  of  those  tribes  were  accompany- 
ing Colonel  Langberg  in  his  campaign  against  the  Comauches, 
as  far  as  the  “ Laguna  de  Jaeo  ; ” the  remainder  were  engaged 
in  agriculture  and  in  hunting.  A later  campaign  made  by  the 
Seminoles  against  the  Comanches  earned  for  them  the  thanks 
of  the  government,  which,  however,  ordered  that  in  future  ex- 
peditious they  should  be  accompanied  by  some  Mexicans,  as 
was  done  in  1853  and  1854.  The  next  year  they  had  a battle 
with  the  Mescaleros,  inflicting  upon  the  latter  a loss  of  sixteen 


410 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


killed,  6 prisoners  and  52  animals  recaptured.  Up  to  the  close 
of  this  year,  according  to  the  reports  made  by  the  authorities 
at  Santa  Rosa,  the  Seminoles  had  given  no  occasion  for  com- 
plaint ; they  were  industrious,  warlike  and  desirous  of  education 
and  religious  instruction  for  their  families. 

Several  expeditions  were  made  hy  them  in  1856  and  1857, 
with  favorable  results,  but  in  the  latter  year  many  Seminoles 
died  of  small  pox.  Among  the  victims  were  'the  chiefs  Wild 
Cat  and  Coyote.  The  authorities  of  Santa  Rosa  had  occasion 
to  report  bad  conduct  on  the  part  of  the  Muscogees,  especially 
in  refusing  to  co-operate  with  Col.  Langberg  for  the  defense  of 
the  frontier  against  filibusters. 

Robberies  made  by  the  savages  from  these  tribes  in  1858 
led  to  two  combined  expeditions.  Differences  between  Semi- 
noles and  Muscogees  about  water  privileges  occasioned  the  ap- 
pointment of  a Mexican  as  a justice  of  the  peace  among  them. 
A school  had  been  maintained  by  the  government  for  three 
years  past. 

Early  in  1858,  two  chiefs  who  had  gone  to  the  United  States 
to  see  their  kinsmen,  returned  and  tried  to  induce  these  tribes 
to  go  back  to  their  former  homes.  This  action  was  regretted 
by  the  Mexican  authorities  on  account  of  the  good  services 
they  were  rendering  against  the  savages.  They  were  tempo- 
rarily diverted  from  their  purpose  by  a new  campaign  into  the 
desert,  but  afterwards  most  of  them  were  persuaded  by  two 
Americans,  living  at  Santa  Rosa,  to  set  out  for  the  north.  On 
the  26th  of  February,  1859,  there  only  remained  at  Santa  Rosa 
60  Seminoles,  22  of  whom  were  fighting  men,  and  the  rest 
women  and  children. 

Shortly  afterwards  the  government  directed  that  the  Mus- 
cogees be  removed  a hundred  leagues  to  the  south  to  prevent 
their  being  carried  off  by  filibusters. 

On  the  25th  of  August,  1861,  the  rest  of  the  Seminoles 
went  to  Texas,  in  charge  of  members  of  the  tribe  who  came 
to  Racimiento  for  that  purpose,  provided  with  passports  from 
an  American  officer. 

To  understand  fully  the  causes  of  the  return  of  the  Seminoles 
from  Mexico  to  the  United  States,  it  will  be  expedient  to  re- 


NORTHERN'  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


411 


member  thatinlS57,  an  American  named  Barnard,  residing 
at  Corpus  Christi,  made  a contract  with  the  governments  of 
Nuevo  Leon  and  Coahuila  for  bringing  the  Florida  Seminoles 
to  Mexico.  This  contract  was  published  at  the  time,  and  un- 
doubtedly influenced  the  subsequent  conduct  of  the  agents  of 
the  American  government. 

On  the  12th  of  March,  1859,  a representative  of  the  United 
States  agent  for  the  Seminoles  came  to  Villa  Guerrero,  and  in- 
formed Colonel  Blanco  that  his  object  was  to  bring  about  the 
removal  of  the  two  tribes  in  question  to  their  reservations. 
This  person  was  given  a passport  and  an  escort  to  Monterey, 
and  was  accompanied  thither  by  the  Seminole  “Tiger,”  this 
mission  leading  to  the  removal  which  took  place  two  years 
later,  as  above  mentioned,  to  the  general  regret  of  the  inhabit- 
ants of  Santa  Rosa. 

The  measures  taken  at  this  time  for  the  return  of  the  Semi- 
noles to  the  United  States  did  not  spring  from  any  misdeeds 
committed  by  them  in  Texas.  No  accusation  of  the  kind  was 
brought  against  them.  The  motive  may  have  been  to  reunite 
the  dispersed  members  of  the  tribe,  or  the  fear  that  the  Mexi- 
can portion  would  attract  their  American  brethren,  and  thus 
leave  the  agents  without  the  gains  of  their  official  posts.  At 
all  events,  the  action  was  not  a just  one,  for  it  damaged  legiti- 
mate Mexican  interests,  on  which  considerable  sums  had  been 
spent. 

At  the  close  of  1861,  not  one  of  the  tribes  in  question  lived 
in  Mexico,  except  the  so-called  Black  Muscogees,  at  Parras, 
numbering  from  40  to  60  persons.  The  Seminoles  and  Kicka- 
poos  were  all  gone,  except  nine  of  the  latter,  who  lived  at 
Morelos  and  Allende  as  farmers  and  teamsters,  several  of  whom, 
however,  had  already  been  killed  in  Texas  in  1859,  when  they 
went  thither  to  sell  deer  skins  and  furs. 

In  the  heat  of  the  Confederate  war  and  our  war  against  the 
French  intervention,  the  Kickapoo  chief.  Tobacco,  asked  from 
the  military  commander  of  the  district  of  the  Rio  Grande,  per- 
mission and  an  outfit  to  go  to  the  north  and  bring  back  many 
of  his  tribe  who  wished  to  come  to  Mexico.  It  appears  by  a 
communication  from  the  government  of  Nuevo  Leon,  dated 


412 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


December  6th,  1863,  that  the  expenses  incurred  in  complying 
with  his  request  were  ajDproved. 

On  the  13th  of  October,  1864,  the  iirst  alcalde  of  Santa 
Rosa  reported  that  five  days  before,  more  than  200  Kickapoos 
of  both  sexes  had  presented  themselves,  asking  for  subsistence 
and  permission  to  remain  in  that  municipality,  until  they  could 
solicit  a permanent  place  of  residence  from  the  president  of  the 
republic.  It  was  observed  that  they  presented  no  passports 
from  the  authorities  of  Rio  Grande  district,  but  their  journey 
had  been  along  the  high  road,  and  they  were  presumed  to  be 
acting  in  good  faith. 

No  other  document  on  the  subject  appears  in  the  archives 
of  Santa  Rosa  until  January,  1866,  when  the  alcalde  of  that 
place  acknowledges  receipt  of  a decree  of  the  11th  of  that 
month,  which  granted  to  the  Kickapoos  the  location  of  Nacimi- 
euto,  formerly  abandoned  by  the  Seminoles  and  Muscogees. 

From  communications  found  at  Rosa,  Nava  and  Guerrero, 
it  is  found  that  in  1865,  some  of  these  Indians  were  engaged 
in  hunting  near  Remolino,  where  they  solicited  and  received 
rations  of  meat.  They  were  also  charged,  about  this  time, 
with  stealing  horses  at  Resurrection,  which  led  to  secret  inves- 
tigations and  precautionary  measures.  A circular  order  was 
sent  to  the  ranchos  near  Piedras  Negras,  by  the  prefect  of  that 
district,  directing  the  greatest  vigilance  in  preventing  the 
Kickapoos  from  going  over  to  Texas  to  rob,  as  had  been  at- 
tempted by  a party  of  eleven  warriors  at  Pacuache  ford.  This 
attempt  was  prevented,  and  gave  rise  to  strict  injunctions  from 
the  government  of  Coahuila,  to  watch  and  report  their  con- 
duct, accompanied  by  a threat  of  expulsion,  in  case  of  a repe- 
tition of  the  grievance. 

The  action  of  the  Mexican  Government  in  watching  over 
the  interests  of  Mexicans  and  Americans  was  loyal,  prompt 
and  efficacious,  and  for  three  years  thereafter,  no  further 
complaint  was  made  against  the  Kickapoos.  It  was  stated 
in  the  account  of  depredations  in  Texas,  that  up  to  1868,  the 
Kickapoos  had  not  been  mentioned,  even  as  jprdbahle  per- 
petrators of  outrages.  This  fact  proves  the  good  result  of 
the  warnings  given  and  the  measures  of  precaution  taken  in 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


413 


1865.  It  should  also  be  noted  that  the  first  charge  made 
against  the  Ivickapoos,  of  robberies  in  Texas,  proceeded  from 
Mason  county,  adjoining  Kerr,  where  about  this  time  bandits 
disguised  as  Indians  had  taken  refuge.  These  same  bandits 
had  been  accused  of  being  in  alliance  with  the  Comanches  in 
1858,  before  the  Kickapoos  came  to  Mexico.  Moreover,  as 
Mason  county  is  equidistant  from  the  American  and  Mexican 
Kickapoo  reservations,  there  is  greater  reason  to  attribute- 
such  depredations  to  the  larger  fraction  residing  in  the  United 
States,  than  to  the  smaller  in  Mexico. 

It  is  nevertheless  true,  that  the  conduct  of  the  Kickapoos 
was  not  always  unexceptionable.  A few  isolated  cases  of 
robberies  of  cattle  occurred,  but  the  sufferers  were  almost 
always  Mexicans,  although  in  one  or  two  instances,  the  dep- 
redation was  committed  on  the  Texan  side  of  the  river.  The 
government  of  Coahuila  and  the  military  authorities  of  Rio 
Grande  district  were  ever  on  the  alert  to  discover  and  punish 
such  depredations  as  were  actually  accomplished.  On  diflferent 
occasions,  several  of  the  malefactors  were  killed  in  the  act, 
others  were  imprisoned,  and  the  stolen  animals  returned  to 
their  owners  on  both  sides  of  the  river.  In  February,  1866, 
the  measures  of  repression  adopted  were  so  vigorous  as  to 
lead  to  a fear  that  the  whole  tribe  might  become  hostile.  A 
commissioner  was  appointed  to  reside  among  the  Kickapoos 
for  the  special  purpose  of  watching  their  conduct  and  recover- 
ing property  supposed  to  have  been  stolen.  On  the  5th  of 
July,  1867,  that  officer  forwarded  to  the  prefect  of  the  district 
of  Rio  Grande,  a description  of  the  animals  he  had  seized, 
giving  their  brands,  and  suggesting  that  the  losers  of  animals 
be  invited  to  reclaim  their  property.  The  leaders  of  the  tribe 
were  assembled  and  solemnly  warned  of  the  dangerous  con- 
sequences which  would  ensue  from  any  renewal  of  such  dep- 
redations. The  complaints  from  Mexican  sufferers  ceased  in 
1868,  and  the  authorities  of  Santa  Rosa,  who  had  hitherto 
been  conspicuous  in  accusations  against  the  Kickapoos,  defended 
them  from  the  charge  of  collusion  with  the  Comanches,  alleg- 
ing that  the  Kickapoos  themselves  had  just  been  plundered^of 
all  their  horses  by  that  tribe  of  notorious  marauders. 


414 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE, 


Alliances  between  the  Coinanches  and  the  American  section 
of  the  Kickapoos,  living  on  their  reservations,  had  been  made 
before  1868.  If  the  Comanches  and  Kiowas  living  in  the  same 
region  have  marauded  in  every  direction  in  Texas,  as  is  known 
to  be  the  fact,  there  was  nothing  to  prevent  the  American 
Kickapoos  from  imitating  their  conduct.  Many  reasons  com- 
bine to  show  that  such  was  really  the  case.  The  Mexican 
Kickapoos  never  numbered  above  150  lighting  men.  Of  these 
the  greater  part  have  been  constantly  employed  in  agriculture  at 
Kacimiento  and  San  Bias,  remote  from  the  frontier.  Ko 
Mexican  Kickapoo  has  been  killed  or  captured  by  the  American 
regular  forces,  nor  by  the  Texan  militia  in  their  numerous 
engagements  with  the  marauders. 

The  claims  brought  by  American  citizens  and  authorities 
before  the  authorities  of  Muzquiz  (Santa  Bosa)  have  been  at- 
tended to  and  their  property  returned  in  the  few  cases  when 
the  losses  proved  to, be  real.  American  complainants  have 
been  allowed  to  go  to  the  Kickapoo  settlement  in  search  of 
their  property,  and  the  solicitude  of  the  Mexican  authorities 
has  been  carried  to  the  extreme  of  seizing  horses  from  the  Kicka- 
poos on  suspicion  of  their  being  stolen.  In  such  cases,  infor- 
mation has  been  sent  to  Texas  for  the  benefit  of  the  presumed 
owners.  The  infrequency  of  such  seizures  and  the  small  num- 
ber of  animals  found,  sufficiently  proved  that  very  few  In- 
dians were  engaged  in  this  criminal  occupation. 

This  Commission  does  not  undertake  the  defense  of  the 
Kickapoos,  for  it  is  true  that  some  individuals  have  committed 
robberies.  It  maintains,  however,  that  their  inroads  in  Texas 
have  been  insignificant,  and  this  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  none 
of  the  witnesses  examined  in  the  numerous  places  visited,  have 
seen  Kickapoos  offer  horses  or  cattle  for  sale. 

It  is  worthy  of  note  that  just  at  the  time  when  these  In- 
dians had  been  reduced  by  earnest  effort  to  lead  a more  orderly 
life,  an  American  commissioner,  Mr.  S.  Brown,  arrived  at  Santa 
Rosa  for  the  purpose  of  inducing  them  to  remove  to  the  United 
States.  He  was  allowed  to  propose  the  matter  to  the  Indians, 
but  in  spite  of  his  offers  of  land  and  rations,  they  refused  to 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


415 


remove.  The  ofier  was  renewed  at  Brown’s  request,  by  the 
authorities  of  Santa  Rosa,  with  the  same  negative  result. 

It  was  now  apparent  that  there  would  be  complaints  against 
the  Indians,  and  the  authorities,  who  a few  months  before  had 
risked  their  existence  in  tlieir  repression  of  all  misconduct, 
were  indirectly  threatened  with  the  charges  of  complicity 
which  have  since  been  brought  against  them. 

It  may  not  be  presumptuous,  in  view  of  the  known  fact  of 
the  multiform  speculations  carried  on  among  the  Indians  of 
the  reservations,  to  attribute  to  the  private  interests  of  agents 
and  traders,  their  labors  for  the  removal  of  Seminoles  and 
other  Indians  who  have  sought  refuge  in  Mexico.  This  con- 
jecture is  strengthened  by  .the  fact  that  in  March  and  April, 
1870,  three  or  four  different  commissioners  came  to  Santa  Rosa 
for  the  common  object  of  effecting  the  removal  of  the  negroes 
and  Kickapoos  of  Nacimiento.  They  succeeded  in  respect  to 
the  negroes,  and  the  poverty  of  the  Kickapoos  made  it  probable 
that  they  would  follow  the  example. 

Such  energy  shown  by  private  individuals  in  this  matter, 
shows  that  depredations  were  not  the  cause  of  their  action. 
Moreover,  the  poverty  of  the  Kickapoos  convinced  the  several 
commissioners  of  the  falsity  of  the  sweeping  charges  made 
against  them  in  Texan  papers,  which  represented  them  as  com- 
mitting murders  and  robberies  on  a grand  scale,  aided  and 
abetted  by  Mexicans  who  publicly  bought  their  booty. 

In  order  to  attend  to  the  urgent  wants  of  the  Indians  re- 
siding at  Nacimiento,  a census  was  taken  in  June,  1870,  and 
they  were  found  to  number  500.  The  authorities  of  Santa 
Rosa  then  appealed  to  the  philanthropy  of  the  towns  in  the 
districts  of  Monelova  and  Rio  Grande,  for  the  relief  of  their 
wants,  and  the  State  government  also  succored  them  in  con- 
sideration of  the  services  they  had  rendered  against  the  sav- 
ages. It  was  just  at  this  time  that  the  commander  of  Fort 
Duncan  and  the  commercial  agent  at  Piedras  Kegras  came  to 
Santa  Rosa,  offering  the  Kickapoos  great  inducements  and  all 
kinds  of  guaranties  for  removino;. 

The  excessive  vigilance  with  which  the  Kickapoos  were 
watched  by  the  authorities  of  Santa  Rosa,  from  1867  onward, 


416 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


■was  on  account  of  certain  notorious  losses  suiferecl  at  their 
hands  by  Mexicans,  and  not  on  account  of  any  forays  into  the 
United  States.  Xone  such  had  odcnrred,  and  but  rarely  had  a 
few  thefts  taken  place  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river.  This 
vigilance  will  sufficiently  accpiit  those  authorities  of  the  charge 
of  collusion  with  the  Kickapoos  in  any  depredations. 

The  evidence  gathered  by  this  Commission  in  the  towns  it 
has  visited,  and  the  testimony  of  the  archives  conclusively  show 
that  the  greater  part  of  the  Kickapoos  have  conducted  them- 
selves well.  The  exceptions  have  been  very  few  iu  number, 
and  their  robberies  have  been  of  insignificant  value,  and  chiefly 
in  Mexico.  The  Commissioners,  Messrs.  Atkinson  and.  Williams, 
who  have  again  visited  the  Kickapoos  this  year  (1873),  have 
expressed  a belief  that  they  were  not  the  perpetrators  of  any 
depredations  in  Texas.  This  conviction  was  the  result  of  ex- 
tended conferences  with  the  chiefs  of  the  tribe  relative  to  their 
removal,  in  which  those  chiefs  earnestly  alleged  that  they  had 
given  no  provocation  for  the  McKenzie  invasion,  in  which  so 
many  of  their  kinsmen  had  been  massacred. 

At  this  stage  of  the  negotiation  the  Commissioners  olfered 
to  go  and  obtain  the  release  of  the  captives  taken  in  the  Mc- 
Kenzie raid  before  continuing  the  conferences.  They  set  out 
for  that  purpose,  but  were  obliged  to  return  without  having 
obtained  that  object.  As  the  result  of  the  final  interviews,  four 
hundred  Indians  agreed  to  return  to  the  United  States,  while 
the  remainder,  numbering  about  two  hundred,  set  out,  some  on 
foot,  others  in  carts  drawn  by  oxen,  for  a new  place  of  residence 
farther  to  the  south,  on  tlie  boundary  line  between  Durango 
and  Coahuila. 

This  is  the  history  of  the  Kickapoos  during  the  eight  years 
that  they  have  lately  resided  in  Mexico.  Poverty,  spoliation 
of  their  lands  and  persecution  forced  them  iu  1864  to  abandon 
the  territory  of  the  United  States,  and  the  same  causes  have 
now  led  to  their  return.  Their  destiny — the  destiny  of  the  In- 
dian race — pursues  them  everywhere.  They  are  now  divided 
and  no  longer  form  a people,  but  isolated  families,  whose  names 
will  soon  be  forgotten. 

The  difficulties  under  which  the  authorities  of  Mexico 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


417 


labored  in  1851,  when  this  tribe  first  presented  itself,  were  re- 
peated on  the  second  occasion,  although  assuming  a different 
character.  It  was  inevitable  that  semi-civilized  tribes,  foreign 
to  our  soil,  woiTld  occasion  such  difficulties,  which  were  due  to 
a forgetfulness  of  the  lesson  taught  on  the  earlier  occasion,  and 
to  the  violation  of  the  wise  rules  laid  down  in  September, 
1850,  prohibiting  all  negotiations  with  such  tribes  of  Indians 
without  the  express  approval  of  the  supreme  government. 

The  second  immigration  of  the  Kickapoos  into  our  repub- 
lic took  place  during  the  war  with  France,  and  was  not  known 
to  the  supreme  government,  unless,  perchance,  by  means  of 
complaints.  It  was  a State  government  which  received  them 
and  gave  them  lands  near  the  American  frontier.  Recent  oc- 
currences have  proved  the  great  wisdom  and  prudence  of  the 
resolution  taken  in  1850,  concerning  the  manner  of  regulating 
and  directing  Indian  affairs. 


AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  LIPANS. 

The  Lipans,  one  of  the  tribes  composing  the  Apache  na- 
tion, have  for  many  ^mars  committed  horrible  depredations  on 
the  frontier  of  Mexico.  It  was  they  who,  after  having  been 
defeated  in  1789  and  1790,  in  the  two  famous  campaigns  di- 
rected by  the  celebrated  Don  Juan  de  Ugalde,  first  brought 
their  allies,  the  Comanches,  to  this  side  of  the  Rio  Grande,  in 
1813,  when  a long  period  of  peace  had  filled  the  pasture 
grounds  to  overflowing  .with  all  kinds  of  cattle. 

In  the  general  summary  of  Indian  invasions,  a sufficient 
account  has  been  given  of  their  misdeeds  up  to  1854,  at  which 
date  a peace  was  made  with  them  bj'  the  governor  of  Coahuila. 
This  act  brought  about  difficulties  with  Texas,  and  algo  with 
Nuevo  Leon  ; the  governor  of  the  latter  State  refusing  to  ad- 
mit the  Lipans  into  its  towns,  on  account  of  the  ingratitude 
they  had  always  shown  to  all  similar  favors.  On  this  occasion 
again  the  wise  rules  of  1850  were  broken  by  admitting  within 
our  borders  a savage  tribe,  which  was  formidable  not  so  much 


418 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


from  its  numbers  as  from  its  familiar  knowledge  of  our  terri- 

O 

tory. 

In  the  accounts  of  depredations  in  JSTuevo  Leon  and 
Tamaulipas,  it  lias  already  been  mentioned  that  the  Lipans 
■were  followed  by  parties  from  both  those  States,  to  ascertain 
whether  they  had  been  the  perpetrators  of  any  of  the  outrages 
suffered  therein.  On  this  errand  Colonels  Zuazua  and  Frutos 
penetrated  from  Lampazos  and  Ciudad  Guerrero  to  Villa  de 
Rosas,  where  the  authorities  aided  their  investigations,  giving 
them  guides  to  the  Indian  encampments.  Although  no  posi- 
tive proofs  against  the  Indians  were  found,  the  suspicions  were 
not  quieted,  since  it  was  ascertained  that  some  of  the  tribe 
had  previously  disappeared,  carrying  away  numerous  horses. 

These  suspicions  and  other  new  complaints  made  by  towns 
in  Mexico  and  Texas  very  properly  engaged  the  attention  of 
the  governor  of  the  frontier,  who,  in  December,  1855,  wrote  as 
follows  to  the  minister  of  war : 

“ The  Lipan  tribe  which,  in  the  time  of  the  immortal 
Iturbide,  numbered  nearly  a thousand  warriors,  has  suffered  an 
incredible  diminution,  owing  to  its  wandering  life  and  savage 
habits ; since  its  chiefs  lately  made  peace  with  governor  Car- 
dona, the  fighting  men  number  only  eighty-eight.  Notwith- 
standing the  treaty,  the  Americans  and  some  of  our  frontier 
towns  have  made  complaints  against  these  Indians,  and  the 
military  authority,  therefore,  appointed  an  agent  to  watch 
their  conduct  and  report  their  expeditions,  so  as  to  prevent  or 
punish  them.  The  Lipan  chieftains,  who  were  not  well  pleased 
with  such  supervision,  which  they  attributed  to  Colonel  Lang- 
berg,,came  to  this  office  to  complain  of  that  measure ; but 
when  they  learned  that  it  was  by  my  order,  and  when  I showed 
them  that  it  was  a guaranty  for  them  as  regards  botli  Ameri- 
cans and  Mexicans,  they  went  away  satisfied,  promising  to 
keep  the  treaty  of  peace.  There  is  nothing  to  fear  from  this 
tribe,  which  is  located  at  a place  which  it  cannot  leave  without 
being  observed,  but  as  it  is  really  composed  of  savages,  it  needs 
a director  who  shall  care  for  its  education,  and  lands  for  culti- 
vation.” 

The  character  of  these  Indians,  their  number,  their  situation, 
the  damages  fliey  had  caused  to  Mexicans  and  Americans, 
the  necessity  of  watching  over  them  and  of  stimulating  their 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


419 


inclination  towards  civilized  life,  are  all  described  by  the 
governor  who  exercised  such  strict  supervision  over  them.  A 
month  later,  in  February,  185fi,  the  Lipans  w’ere  subjected  to  a 
searching  investigation,  in  consequence  of  certain  robberies  in 
Coahuila  and  murders  in  Texas,  when  an  order  was  given 
“ to  notify  them  for  the  last  time,  that  the  least  complaint  for 
damages  caused  on  either  side  of  the  Rio  Grande  would  be 
the  signal  for  their  extermination  without  discrimination  of  any 
kind.”  It  was  not  until  a month  later,  in  March,  1856,  that 
investigations  were  made  in  Texas,  resulting  in  charges  being- 
made  against  the  Lipans  for  the  acts  already  mentioned. 
Appeal  was  made  to  the  friendship  and  good  will  existing 
between  the  two  countries,  and  co-operation  was  offered  for 
putting  an  end  to  the  depredations  of  the  Lipans. 

In  replying  to  the  note  of  Colonel  Ruggles,  of  Fort  Mc- 
Intosh, in  which  the  above  mentioned  complaint  was  made, 
the  Governor  of  Nuevo  Leon  and  Coahuila  took  occasion  to 
make  a demand  and  to  remind  the  American  officer  of  an 
unfulfilled  duty.  Under  date  of  March  16th,  1856,  he  wrote 
as  follows : 

“ I have  the  satisfaction  to  inclose  copies  of  communications 
sent  to  the  military  commanders  on  the  frontier.  In  them  you 
will  see  that  before  you  informed  me  of  tlie  murders  and 
robberies  committed  by  the  Lipans,  I ordered  the  arrest  of  the 
malefactors,  and  in  case  of  i-esistance,  to  w'age  a war  of 
extermination  against  them.  I trust,  Mr.  Commander,  that 
this  conduct  on  the  part  of  the  Mexican  authorities  will  be 
imitated  by  those  of  the  United  States,  in  respect  to  the 
Comanches,  Kiowas  and  other  barbarous  tribes  who,  in  large 
numbers,  cross  the  Rio  Grande  to  rob  and  devastate  the  territory 
of  Mexico,  and  who  sell  their  spoils  to  American  citizens,  as  is 
fully  proved  by  the  kind  of  arms  they  employ,  and  the  known 
existence  of  trading  posts  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Rio  Bravo. 
It  cannot  be  believed  that  the  government  of  the  United 
States  will  tolerate  such  traffic  in  the  blood  and  fortunes  of  the 
citizens  of  a friendly  nation,  nor  that  when  it  learns  the  ex- 
istence of  this  shameful  and  inhuman  traffic,  it  will  fail  to 
instruct  the  commanders  of  detachments  along  the  line  to 
prevent  the  Indians  from  crossing,  and  the  white  settlements 
trom  supplying  them  with  arms,  as  has  heretofore  been  done 
from  Moras  up  to  Paso  del  Norte.” 


4:20 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


Under  date  of  March  26th,  the  governor  and  commander- 
in-chief  communicated  to  the  war  department  the  result  of  liis 
proceedings  against  the  Lipans,  as  follows  : 

“ The  auxiliary  troops  of  Rio  Grande  and  Lampazos  having 
been  placed  under  arms  by  my  orders,  the  former  surprised  on 
the  19th  instant,  a party  of  63  Indians  near  Villa  Gigedo,  and 
was  conducting  them  to  Rio  Sabinas  to  act  in  concert  with  Col- 
onel Zuazua;  but  before  arriving  there,  the  savages  undertook 
to  escape,  while  their  women  commenced  killing  their  infants, 
rather  than  see  them  deprived  of  liberty.  This  unnatural  action 
enraged  the  troops,  and  after  Captain  Miguel  Patino  had  in 
vain  attempted  to  prevent  the  flight  and  this  horrible  butchery, 
he  was  forced  to  appeal  to  the  last  remedy,  by  putting  to  death 
41  persons  of  both  sexes.  Meanwhile  Colonel  Zuazua  was  en- 
gaged in  carrying  out  his  own  instructions,  with  a respectable 
force,  and  without  awaiting  the  arrival  of  Captain  Patino,  he 
attacked  and  disarmed  the  enemy,  capturing  74  persons  of  all 
ages  and  both  sexes.” 

Five  days  later,  these  events  were  communicated  to  Lieu- 
tenant-colonel Daniel  Ruggles,  in  command  at  Fort  McIntosh, 
in  the  following  terms : 

“My  orders  for  the  chastisement  of  the  Lipans  were  carried 
out  on  the  21st,  22d  and  23d  instant,  with  such  exactitude  that 
the  result  surpassed  my  hopes,  the  whole  tribe  having  been 
made  prisoners,  most  of  the  warriois  killed,  and  the  small  rem- 
nant so  dispersed  that  their  insignificant  number  cannot  inspire 
any  fears  for  the  future.  * * * I trufet  that  the  civil  and 

military  authorities  of  the  United  States  will  correspond  to  the 
desires  and  expectations  of  those  of  Mexico,  who  have  now  af- 
forded a rare  example  of  the  interest  they  take  in  the  misfor- 
tunes of  their  fellows,  by  imitating  their  conduct  in  regard  to 
the  Comanches  and  Kiowas,  of  whom  I spoke  in  my  note  of 
the  16th  instant.” 

It  may  be  said  that  the  history  of  the  Lipans  is  brought 
to  an  end  by  the  oflicial  notes  above  transcribed.  The  Com- 
mission might  here  close  this  subject,  for  the  tribe  disappeared 
in  1856,  and  the  miserable  remnants  do  not  deserve  the  name 
of  a tribe.  But  the  charges  which  are  still  made  against  Mex- 
ico on  their  account,  have  forced  the  Commission  to  trace  all 
their  steps,  even  after  the  above  date. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


421 


The  statements  of  captives  have  supplied  interesting  data 
concerning  the  dispersed  remnant  of  the  Lipans.  From  tlieir 
concurrent  testimony,  it  appears  that  since  1856,  tlie  Lipans 
have  lived  on  the  banks  of  the  Fecos  river,  united  witli  the 
Mescaleros,  and  have  marauded  on  both  sides  of  the  Rio 
Grande,  maintaiiiing  traffic  with  the  Comanches  and  with  the 
people  of  New  Mexico.  Their  residence  on  the  Fecos  river 
has  also  been  abundantly  proved  by  the  combined  expeditions 
of  Mexicans  and  Americans  made  against  them  in  that  locality. 
They  have  not  lived  in  Mexico  except  for  a short  time  in  1868, 
when  the  vigilance  over  them  was  so  strict  that  they  soon  de- 
camped and  returned  to  the  Fecos.  In  April  of  the  present 
year  (1873),  they  presented  themselves  again,  but  the  massacre 
of  the  Kickapoos  frightened  them  away,  and  they  went  mur- 
dering and  robbing  on  their  retreat. 

From  1856,  when  this  tribe  was  nearly  exterminated,  to 
the  present  time,  the  remnants  have  presented  themselves  in 
Mexico  three  times,  always  with  unmeaning  offers  of  peace. 
The 'first  time  was  in  1861,  when  they  remained  four  montlis. 
Again  in  1868,  a fraction  of  them  came  and  lived  two  years  at 
Remolina.  Finally,  in  April  of  the  present  year  they  again 
came,  but  withdrew  in  May  on  account  of  the  McKenzie  raid. 
Two  years  and  a half  of  residence  in  Mexico  against  fourteen 
and  a half  in  the  United  States. 

This  Commissiefn  finds  itself  bound  to  censure  the  procedure 
of  the  governments  of  Coahuila  in  this  respect,  since  no  amount 
of  experience  has  been  sufficient  to  teach  them  the  impropriety 
of  accepting  propositions  of  peace  from  Indians  who  continually 
violated  its  stipulations  and  acted  with  evident  duplicity.  The 
exercise  by  that  State  of  a faculty  which  belongs  exclusively  to 
the  supreme  government  of  the  republic  merits  not  merely  cen 
sure  but  condemnation.  The  same  may  be  said  of  the  grants 
of  land  to  the  Kickapoos.  The  frontier  needs  settlers  of  a very 
different  class,  who  are  repelled  by  the  presence  of  semi-bar- 
barous Indians.  This  imprudent  conduct,  however,  involves 
no  offense  against  the  United  States,  nor  has  that  nation  experi- 
enced any  grievance  from  the  short  sojourn  of  the  Kickapoo 
and  Lipan  Indians  in  Mexico. 


422 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


INVASIOJ^  OF  MEXICAN  TEREITOEY  BY  EOECES 
OE  CITIZENS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

A profound  sensation  ought  to  have  been  caused,  and  was 
really  caused,  by  the  conduct  of  General  McKenzie,  when, 
witliout  notice  to  any  authority  in  Mexico,  and  without  just 
cause,  he  invaded  our  territory  with  a detachment  of  the  army 
of  the  IJnited  States,  surprising  a small  encampment  of  Kicka- 
poos  which  was  living  at  Eemolino  engaged  in  the  ordinary 
labors  of  agriculture. 

The  conduct  of  that  officer  has  been  reviewed  in  a separate 
document,  in  which  this  Commission  believes  that  it  has  stated 
all  the  circumstances  which  explain  it.  It  maj'^  here  be  men- 
tioned that  the  judgment  of  the  Commission  differs  entirely 
from  that  of  the  Texan  press,  which  attributed  that  step  to  in- 
structions left  by  the  American  secretary  of  war  when  he  visited 
the  Eio  Grande  frontier  shortly  before. 

By  the  facts  set  forth  in  the  sections  devoted  to  Kickapoos 
and  Lipans,  the  value  of  the  accusations  against  tlie  former  may 
be  correctly  estimated.  The  name  of  the  latter  was  never  men- 
tioned in  this  connection,  it  being  well  known  that  they  resided 
in  American  territory.  All  the  accusations  were  brought 
against  the  Kickapoos,  for  no  other  reason  than  that  they  lived 
in  Mexico,  and  not  a single  proof  of  any  depredations  by  them 
iu  Texas  was  alleged. 

The  abundant  evidence  collected  by  this  Commission  shows 
that  the  invasion  was  intimately  connected  with  the  recent 
arrival  of  a band  of  Lipans  numbering  thirty  warriors,  who 
had  been  admitted,  as  being  peaceably  inclined,  by  the  gov- 
ernment of  Coahuila.  They  had  settled  at  Eemolino,  adjoin- 
ing the  Kickapoos,  with  whom  some  of  them  lived,  wliile 
others  were  engaged  in  tending  their  horses  and  cattle  in  the 
pastures  of  the  Sierra.  One  of  the  Lipans  liad  wdtli  him  a 
Texan  boy  taken  captive  years  before,  whom  the  American 
commercial  agent  at  Piedras  Negras  undertook  to  ransom. 

Outrages  had  been  committed  in  Kerr  county  and  vicinity 
for  a term  of  years  by  American  bandits  disguised  as  Indians, 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


423 


and  their  depredations  were  currently  attributed  to  Kickapoos 
or  Mexicans.  Forays  had  in  consequence  been  made  by  Tex- 
ans of  the  frontier  into  Mexico,  one  of  which,  from  its  grave 
character  and  consequences,  must  be  heie  narrated. 

Under  pretext  of  recovering  stolen  property,  a partj'-  of 
fifteen  or  twenty  Texans  crossed  the  Eio  Grande  on  the  27th  of 
September  and  murderously  assaulted  tbe  house  of  the  alcalde 
(Aguilera)  at  Resurreccion  or  Villa  I7ueva.  The  aggressors 
had  painted  their  faces  black  they  were  headed  by  a “ notori- 
ous assassin  ” named  MeWeber,  whose  sole  object  was  the  mur- 
der of  Aguilera,  and  among  them  were  several  wealthy  citizens 
of  Uvalde  county.  In  the  encounter  the  house  was  burned 
down,  a woman  and  a boy  were  severely  wounded,  and  Aguil- 
era himself  was  killed  after  a heroic  resistance,  in  which  he 
killed  three  of  his  assailants.  The  horrible  nature  of  this  crime 
forced  the  Texan  authorities  to  take  cognizance  of  it.  Several 
of  the  criminals  were  imprisoned,  and  the  press  loudly  con- 
demned the  act,  though  writers  were  not  wanting  who  de- 
fended it. 

A person  named  Strickland  wrote  to  a Texan  paper  a letter 
dated  April  20th,  from  San  Felipe,  a rancho  on  the  Eio 
Grande,  25  leagues  above  Eagle  Pass  or  Fort  Duncan.  In  it  he 
charged  that  the  surrounding  region  was  being  constantly 
plundered  by  Indians  and  Mexicans  disguised  as  Indians,  and 
complained  of  the  impediments  offered  by  the  authorities  to 
the  pursuit  of  the  robbers  into  Mexico,  under  pretext  of  the 
laws  of  neutrality,  “ which  had,”  so  he  said,  “ become  a dead 
letter,  and  been  nullified  by  the  continual  incursions  of  people 
from  the  other  side.” 

This  letter  undoubtedly  produced  considerable  efiect,  wliich 
was  strengthened  by  another  written  from  Kerrville  on  May 
3d  to  the  San  Antonio  Daily  Herald,  accusing  the  Kickapoos, 
the  Lipans,  the  Seminoles,  red  or  black,  and  their  Mexican 
allies  of  constant  forays  and  murders  in  that  district,  as  well  as 
-in  Kendall  and  Bandera  counties. 

Close  upon  these  letters  came  a dispatch  from  the  commer- 
cial agent  at  Piedras  Kegras  dated  May  8th,  quite  as  false  and 
exaggerated  as  the  above  statements,  which  was  undoubtedly 


42i 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


the  immediate  cause  of  the  Mclvenzie  invasion.  It  was  textu- 
ally  as  follows : 

“ Editor  of  Express  : 

“ I have  been  informed  that  the  Mescaleros  have  in  their 
possession  another  boy  who  was  taken  captive  five  years  ago  at 
Olmos,  near  San  Antonio  and  Bandera.  A messenger  1 sent 
to  the  Indian  encampment  to  ransom  him  has  returned,  bring- 
ing word  that  the  Indian  who  holds  the  boy  is  away  on  an  in- 
cursion in  Texas,  and  the  captive  cannot  be  given  up  until  his 
return.” 

An  agent  or  public  officer  of  the  United  States  should 
naturally  be  considered  too  discreet  and  prudent  to  propagate 
falsehoods.  The  dissimulation  with  which  it  was  done  pro- 
duced its  full  effect.  From  the  above  dispatch  it  was  inferred 
that  the  Mescaleros  were  living  in  Mexico,  and  this  was  false, 
for  there  was  but  a single  one  of  them  in  Mexico,  who  was 
married  to  a Lipan  woman,  and  lived  on  a rancho  of  his  own. 
The  falsity  of  the  statement  about  the  Indian  whose  absence 
on  a foray  in  Texas  delayed  the  ransom,  is  obvious  to  all  who 
know  the  mysterious  and  reserved  manners  of  the  Indians. 
Nevertheless,  this  item  served  as  a text  for  a general  explosion 
in  the  Texan  press  against  Mexico,  and  these  inflammatory  ap- 
peals were  speedily  followed  by  the  McKenzie  raid,  which  took 
place  just  at  a time  when  the  new  American  Commissioners 
for  the  removal  of  the  Kickapoos  had  passed  through  San  An- 
tonio, on  their  way  to  Monterey  and  Saltillo,  at  which  latter 
place  they  were  at  the  moment  of  its  actual  occiirrence.  This 
circumstance  adds  force  to  our  friendly  construction  that  the  raid 
Avas  not  directed  by  the  American  Government,  but  was  due 
to  a sudden  resolution  of  General  McKenzie,  acting  on  his  own 
responsibility. 

According  to  official  data.  General  McKenzie  set  out  on 
the  17th  of  May,  Avith  six  companies  of  the  Ith  regiment  of 
cavalry  and  25  Seminoles.  Ilis  force  is  estimated  at  500  men. 
Crossing  the  Rio  Grande  Avith  the  utmost  secrecy  and  advanc- 
ing with  great  rapidity,  he  reached  the  Kickapoo  village  of 
Remolino,  between  8 and  0 A.  M.,  on  the  18th  of  May,  sur- 
rounded and  burned  it  Avithout  resistance,  killing  19  Indians, 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


425 


capturing  41  women  and  boys,  and  about  50  horses.  The  men 
were  mostly  away  from  the  village,  engaged  in  their  agricul- 
tural occupations.  The  settlement  of  Lipans  escaped  attack, 
on  account  of  a deep  creek  which  separates  it  from  the  Kicka- 
poos.  After  a hasty  breakfast,  for  which  they  killed  four  cat- 
tle, the  invaders  retreated  with  the  utmost  rapidity,  and  had 
recrossed  the  Rio  Grande  before  the  militia  of  the  Mexican 
towns  could  be  assembled  to  avenge  this  audacious  violation 
of  Mexican  territory. 

The  few  horses  which  formed  the  only  booty  could  not  be 
identified  as  American  property,  and  were  accordingly  distrib- 
uted among  the  Seminole  guides.  The  Lipans  who  had  so  nar- 
rowly escaped  from  a blow  which  was  principally  intended  for 
them,  speedily  retired  to  a more  secure  encampment  in  the 
Sierra  del  Burro,  and  early  in  September  they  withdrew  from 
Mexico,  after  murdering  three  persons  and  stealing  more  than 
two  hundred  horses. 

Had  it  not  been  for  the  extreme  swiftness  of  McKenzie’s 
march,  a conflict  with  the  Mexican  militia  would  have  been  in- 
evitable. The  forces  of  Piedras  Hegras,  Moral  and  Resurrec- 
tion, as  well  as  all  the  other  towns  of  the  district  were  called  to 
arms,  but  before  they  could  be  assembled  the  invaders  had  dis- 
appeared. 

As  to  the  pretext  alleged  for  this  violation  of  Mexican  ter- 
ritory, the  statements  of  two  Americans  concerned  in  it  show 
that  no  one  believed  in  any  recent  depredations  by  the  Kicka- 
poos,  but  that  the  Lipans  were  the  intended  objects  of  the 
attack.  This  fact  clearly  shows  the  injustice  of  the  action 
taken,  for  the  Lipans  had  been  for  many  years,  and  until  a 
month  preceding,  residents  on  the  Rio  Pecos  in  American  ter- 
ritory. 

Elsewhere  this  Commission  has  severely  condemned  the 
conduct  of  the  Government  of  Coabuila,  in  granting  terms  of 
peace  to  the  Lipans  and  permitting  their  residence  within  that 
State,  but  this  condemnation  does  not  at  all  justify  the  conduct 
of  the  American  oflBcer.  So  far  as  the  United  States  are 
concerned,  they  cannot  object  to  that  procedure,  for  they  had 
permitted  the  Lipans  to  reside  quietly  on  the  Rio  Pecos, 


426 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


whence  they  had  made  repeated  forays  into  Mexico.  As  long 
ago  as  1861,  they  had  carried  off  five  boys  as  captives  from 
Resurreccion,  who  were  not  recovered  until  1868,  when  the 
tribe  momentarily  returned  to  Mexico.  The  surrender  of 
captives,  who  could  not  otherwise  be  obtained,  affoi'ded  a 
strong  inducement  to  negotiate  with  them,  and  such  negotia- 
tions were  in  no  respect  an  oflense  against  the  United  States, 
where  they  had  so  long  been  tolerated  in  the  midst  of  the 
federal  forts. 

It  has  been  observable  for  many  years,  that  the  Americans 
do  not  consider  these  Indians  as  public  enemies,  except  when 
they  come  to  live  in  Mexico.  No  one  remembers  them  when 
they  are  witliin  the  United  States;  they  are  never  mentioned 
nor  attacked,  nor  are  they  thought  to  be  capable  of  committing 
any  outrage.  But  when  they  are  living  in  Mexico,  even 
under  the  severest  vigilance,  they  are  transformed  into  perpe- 
trators of  all  the  injuries  suffered  in  Texas,  where  it  would 
seem  that  people  wish  to  enjoy  the  exclusive  privilege  of  harbor- 
ing hostile  Indians. 

If  the  presence  of  the  Lipans  at  Remolino  influenced  the 
invasion,  it  becomes  thereby  less  excusable,  for  no  recent  crime 
was  charged  upon  them.  If  they  had  committed  any  outrages, 
they  were  not  known  in  Mexico.  The  division  of  the  horses 
captured  at  Remolino,  among  the  Indian  guides  because  they 
did  not  belong  to  any  citizens  of  Texas,  is  the  surest  proof  that 
there  was  no  real  motive  for  the  insult  offered  to  Mexico. 

The  conduct  of  these  Indians  in  September  last  (1873) 
in  murdering  several  Mexicans  at  Remolino,  Moral  and  Re- 
surreccion,  and  carrying  ofl’  their  property  to  the  United 
States,  shows  how  far  they  are  in  complicity  and  good  fellow- 
ship with  the  citizens  of  the  towns  in  question.  These  dep- 
redations have  been  the  inevitable  consequence  of  the  act  of 
General  McKenzie.  The  Lipans  cannot  believe  that  the 
American  forces  could  have  made  the  attack  without  the  con- 
nivance of  the  Mexican  residents  at  those  places,  on  whom  they 
have  therefore  wreaked  vengeance  as  the  supposed  accomplices 
in  the  McKenzie  raid. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


427 


THE  INDIAH  .POLICY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Out  of  300,000  Indians  now  living  in  the  territory  of  the 
United  States,  according  to  the  last  census,  less  than  half  are 
civilized.  Only  130,000  support  themselves,  while  the  govern- 
ment maintains  115,000  and  55,000  are  savages  who  live  by 
the  chase  and  by  robbery. 

This  single  fact,  transpiring  in  the  midst  of  one  of  the 
most  powerful  nations  of  the  earth,  shows  that  the  races  which 
formerly  possessed  the  northern  part  of  our  continent  have 
gained  nothing  by  contact  with  the  whites,  since  for  three 
centuries  their  situation  has  been  worse  than  it  was  before  the 
coming  of  the  Europeans.  Formerly  they  could  support 
themselves,  to-day  the  government  maintains  them  as  if  they 
were  beggars. 

Whether  such  a protectorate  over  the  Indians  be  necessary 
or  the  reverse,  the  system  observed  in  regard  to  Indian  affairs 
is  a bad  one.  Persons  competent  in  the  matter,  have  long 
since  censured  it,  expressing  wonder  that  the  United  States 
have  been  able,  in  an  easy,  tranquil  and  even  legal  manner, 
almost  to  exterminate  the  Indian  races  from  their  primitive 
domain,  which  they  have  gradually  appropriated  without  the 
employment  of  material  force. 

The  isolation  in  which  the  Indians  were  placed,  the  con- 
tempt with  which  they  have  been  treated,  and  the  perils  with 
which  they  were  surrounded  by  immoral  “ agents,”  have  pro- 
duced their  fatal  results.  The  partially  civilized  tribes  have 
not  advanced  in  the  path  of  enlightenment,  nor  have  the  sav- 
age tribes  entered  upon  that  path.  It  has  already  been  men- 
tioned, that  the  contact  between  the  agricultural  and  the 
nomadic  tribes  has  been  for  both  a source  of  corruption,  and 
the  origin  of  a delicate  question  which  cannot  now  be  solved 
by  the  united  efforts  of  policy  and  justice. 

From  the  time  of  the  colonial  government  in  New  England, 
there  was  declared  against  the  Indians,  under  a peaceful  and 
apparently  just  form,  what  was  virtually  a war  of  extermina- 
tion. This  circumstance  naturally  attracted  the  attention  of 


428 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


the  founder  of  the  United  States,  the  best  man  known  to  have 
existed  in  our  hemisphere,  who  pitied  the  fate  of  the  aborig- 
ines, and  used,  in  one  of  his  messages  to  Congress,  these  noble 
words : 

“We  are  more  enlightened  and  more  powerful  than  the 
Indian  tribes;  we  are  bound  in  honor  to  treat  them  with  kind- 
ness and  generosity.” 

In  these  words  Washington  condemned  the  policy  which 
had  been  followed  with  the  Indians,  and  expressed  the  necessity 
of  a change  which  the  honor  of  the  Republic,  represented  in 
him,  demanded  in  behalf  of  men  who  had  not  been  treated  ac- 
cording to  their  just  deserts.  His  counsels  were  not  adopted, 
and  the  greediness  of  the  whites  for  the  lands  of  the  Indians 
soon  lost  sight  of  the  demands  of  honor.  Enjoying  no  repose, 
^ and  kept  in  constant  agitation,  the  Indians  soon  lost  all  faith 
in  their  own  prosperity,  and  when  they  had  taken  a step 
towards  civilized  life  they  retrograded  as  much  on  being  driven 
to  the  West  and  surrounded  by  savages. 

Having  already  indicated  the  immense  evils  for  Mexico 
and  for  the  United  States  which  sprung  from  this  measure,  it 
is  unnecessary  here  to  recapitulate  them.  It  is  enough  to  note 
that  a sad  and  very  costly  experience  has  taught  the  American 
Government  that  the  customary  policy  was  pernicious  and  in- 
human, and  that  it  should  be  replaced  by  that  which  Wash- 
ington recommended.  The  present  administration  took  this 
great  step,  but  on  undertaking  to  put  in  practice  the  so- 
called  Quaker  policy,  the  obstacles  in  the  way  of  execution 
and  first  application  of  the  new  system,  have  been  so  great 
that  the  results  appear  to  condemn  it.  Many  have  even 
preferred  the  system  of  extermination,  although  so  evidently 
condemned  by  morality  and  justice. 

The  Federal  Government  having  no  efficient  support  in  the 
States  nearest  to  the  Indian  reservations,  at  issue  with  the 
plundering  habits  acquired  by  these  tribes,  and  the  new  sys- 
tem of  peace  and  order  being  opposed  to  the  interests  of  the 
speculators  who  have  profited  by  the  ignorance  of  the  natives, 
it  is  natural  that  during  the  few  years  since  the  introduction  of 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


429 


the  new  policy  very  few  advantages  had  been  obtained.  Yet 
it  is  undeniable  that  some  good  results  have  already  been  per- 
ceived, and  this  Commission  takes  pleasure  in  admitting  this 
fact,  inasmuch  as  it  recognizes  the  excellent  intentions  of  the 
government  at  Washington,  in  its  present  effort  to  substitute  a 
pacific  for  a warlike  policy. 

Having  heretofore,  in  this  report,  expressed  an  unfavorable 
opinion  as  to  the  Indian  pClicy  of  all  the  American  adminis- 
trations anterior  to  the  present  one,  this  Commission  will  ab- 
stain from  any  criticism  of  the  actual  government,  knowing 
that  it  has  to  struggle  with  rooted  abuses  and  prejudices  with 
which  it  often  has  to  temporize,  in  order  to  terminate  them  with- 
in a given  period.  It  observes,  nevertheless,  the  existence  of  a 
careful  and  profound  system  which  is  revealed  by  many  acts, 
some  of  which  it  may  be  well  to  indicate. 

The  general  government  now  desires  to  prevent  the  States 
from  dealing  with  the  Indians.  It  is  trying  to  locate  them 
upon  reservations,  so  as  to  obviate  the  inconveniences  which 
result  from  their  wanderings.  It  has  recognized  the  evils  re- 
sulting from  the  lack  of  education  aniong  the  Indian  youth, 
and  there  is  an  effort  on  the  part  of  the  government  to  edu- 
cate the  rising  generation  which  will  soon  take  the  place  of 
their  serai-barbarous  parents.  It  is  thus  attempted  to  place 
them  beyond  the  control  of  the  States  whose  influence  has 
been  hostile  to  the  improvement  of  this  unfortunate  race. 

In  this  respect  it  is  observed  that  the  Federal  government, 
true  to  its  principles,  has  not  attended  to  the  repeated  requests 
made  by  the  State  of  Texas  for  the  enlistment  of  troops  to  be 
employed  in  defense  against  the  Indians.  The  abuses  and  ex- 
cesses of  every  kind  which  irregular  troops  have  committed 
whenever  they  have  been  employed,  have  not  been  forgotten ; 
they  are  too  well  remembered  to  admit  of  employing  instru- 
ments which  would  result  in  destroying  a work  which  is  being 
carried  out  with  patient  wisdom  in  the  midst  of  formidable 
obstacles. 

Tliis  Commission  believes  that  it  has  divined  that  the  ob- 
ject to  which  the  efforts  of  the  government  are  directed,  is  to 
accomplish  the  union  of  the  Indians,  to  make  of  them  a people, 


430 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


to  admit  them  ultimately  to  the  full  enjoyment  of  the  rights 
of  citizenship,  and  thus  put  an  end  to  the  old  policy  which 
tended  towards  extermination.  Though  having  to  endure 
sharp  criticism  as  to  the  means  employed,  it  steadily  pursues 
its  course.  It  is  already  seen  that  since  the  new  system  was 
begun,  there  has  been  a real  revolution  in  the  habits  of  the 
Indians,  who  are  more  pliable  and  less  ferocious  than  they  were 
before  ; in  the  action  and  influence  of  the  speculators  who  con- 
trolled them  ; in  the  methods  of  life  among  the  Indians  which 
have  improved  by  subjection  to  law  ; and  lastly,  in  the  spirit 
displayed  by  the  Indian  agents. 

That  an  extraordinary  vigilance  is  now  employed  is  a fact 
beyond  all  doubt,  as  also  the  disappearance  "of  many  of  the 
causes  which  kept  the  Indians  in  constant  movement  by  af- 
fording to  their  marauding  forays  the  stimulus  of  a certain 
market  for  their  booty.  The  cessation  or  paralyzation  of  In- 
dian hostilities  in  Mexico  and  their  diminution  in  Texas,  are 
the  immediate  result  of  this  energetic  action  by  the  govern- 
ment. Even  the  incursions  still  made  in  Texas  prove  the  same 
fact,  for  they  show  that  the  Indians  do  not  venture  far  away 
from  their  ordinary  places  of  residence,  so  as  not  openly  to 
violate  their  agreements.  These  depredations  in  Texas  indi- 
cate, moreover,  that  the  criminal  traffickers,  who  induced  them 
to  commit  robberies,  have  not  entirely  disappeared,  but  that 
their  numbers  are  diminished,  and  that  the  vigoi’ous  action  of 
the  government  will  ultimately  force  them  to  abandon  their 
nefarious  occupation. 

It  is  true  that  other  causes  have  been  at  work  in  the  same 
direction  as  has  been  hinted  elsewhere  by  this  Commission. 
It  is  certain  that  material  improvements,  which  have  been 
finished  within  a few  years  past,  have  changed  the  aspect  of 
those  mercantile  exchanges  which  are  the  soul  of  nearly  all 
operations  in  the  neighboring  republic,  and  that  this  circum- 
stance has  had  an  important  bearing  upon  the  change  of  conduct 
both  in  the  Indians  and  in  the  speculators  ; but  it  cannot  be  de- 
nied that  the  action  of  the  government  has  been  the  most  ef- 
ficient influence  at  work  for  the  realization  of  the  work  in  ques- 
tion. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


431 


If  this  line  of  conduct  had  been  observed  from  1848  on- 
ward, or  if  even  tlie  points  on  the  Rio  Grande  where  the 
Indians  generally  cross  had  been  garrisoned,  the  list  of  their 
depredations  would  not  be  so  long.  But  care  was  taken  only 
for  the  security  of  Texas  and  the  American  establishments,  and 
Mexico  was  handed  over  as  a prize  for  tlie  rapacity  of  the 
savages,  who  speedily  invaded  and  desolated  our  country.  Nor 
could  the  exclusive  intention  of  protecting  Texas,  which  was 
shown  by  the  new  distribution  of  forts  and  encampments,  be 
fully  successful,  since  the  American  garrisons,  from  their 
numerical  feebleness,  their  deficiencies  in  horses,  and  many 
other  causes,  were  useless  for  any  pursuit  of  the  Indians.  It 
thus  came  to  pass  that  more  than  once  greater  security  was  en- 
joyed in  Mexico  than  in  Texas,  and  that  American  authorities 
requested  aid  from  Mexico  for  their  own  defense  against  hordes 
of  Comanches  who  encamped  in  front  of  their  towns. 

The  protection  of  the  American  frontier,  for  more  than  ten 
years  from  1848,  was  so  completely  neglected,  that  in  several 
central  points  in  Texas,  entire  settlements  of  savage  Indians 
were  made  with  the  object  of  serving  as  headquarters  for  their 
raids  upon  Mexico,  and  from  which  they  also  marauded  on  a 
smaller  scale  in  Texas  itself.  The  Federal  authorities,  mean- 
while, remained  indifferent,  viewing  with  tranquility  the  or- 
ganization within  their  own  country  of  expeditions  to  invade  a 
foreign  republic.  They  showed  the  same  indifference  when  the 
nomadic  hordes  returned  with  the  cattle  they  had  robbed,  and 
even  when  they  drove  them  in  front  of  their  military  posts, 
never"  attempting  their  recapture.  At  other  places,  officials 
Avho  represented  the  American  Government  in  its  relations 
with  the  Indian  tribes,  secretly  fomented  a traffic  with  the  rob- 
ber tribes,  which  were  exclusively  engaged  in  the  plunder  alike 
of  Mexico  and  of  Texas.  Employees  of  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment shared  the  gains  of  that  illicit  traffic,  while  they  directly 
or  indirectly,  and  Avith  full  knowledge  of  the  fact,  sacrificed 
the  good  name  of  their  country,  by  stimulating  the  Indians  to 
continue  their  depredations  on  the  Mexican  frontier. 

What  has  recently  transpired  in  Texas  in  this  respect,  is  of 
so  serious  and  noteworthy  a character,  that  it  alone  will  suf- 


432 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


fice  for  the  condemnation  of  the  policy  observed  towards  Mex- 
ico, on  this  delicate  and  grave  Indian  question.  For,  if  the 
^ spoils  captured  within  that  State  can  be  publicly  exposed  for 
sale,  as  occurred  in  the  case  of  the  cattle  stolen  from  Mr.  Hitt- 
son,  during  the  present  year,  it  is  evident  that  the  spoils  of 
Mexico,  amounting  to  an  enormous  quantity,  must  with  greater 
reason  have  constituted  a still  more  lucrative  and  scandalous 
traffic. 

Without  here  entering  upon  the  circumstances  of  the  noto- 
rious Howard-Cochise  treaty,  which  placed  the  Apaehes,  of 
Arizona,  upon  the  frontier  of  Sonora,  and  left  them  at  liberty 
to  pursue  their  horrible  career  of  outrages  upon  a friendly 
country — a proceeding  whieh  has  been  energetically  condemned 
by  leading  American  journals,  it  may  be  observed  that  with 
slight  differences  the  occurrences  in  Sonora  are  just  the  same 
as  those  of  the  Rio  Grande.  In  the  former  case  the  reserva- 
tions are  on  the  very  frontier,  and  what  passes  in  them  may 
be  seen  from  both  countries.  On  the  lower  Rio  Grande,  the 
reservations  are  at  a great  distance,  in  Northern  Texas,  but 
the  conduct  of  the  Indians  is  quite  as  fully  proved  by  trust- 
worthy evidence.  In  both  regions  alike,  the  agents  on  the 
reservations  have  looked  on  with  indifference,  while  robberies 
and  kidnapings  have  been  the  order  of  the  day,  and  have 
rewarded  the  criminals  by  the  distribution  of  their  annuities. 

Indifference,  neglect  and  duplicity  at  once  have  character- 
ized many  of  the  officers  who  have  held  command  in  the  Fed- 
eral forts  and  outposts.  From  their  very  encampments  they 
have  seen  the  Indians  from  the  reservations  on  their  \\’ay  to 
Mexico,  and  they  have  not  hindered  them.  They  have  seen 
the  savages  return  laden  with  an  immense  booty,  and  have  not 
tried  to  recover  it,  even  when  they  have  seen  Mexican  troops 
reach  the  Rio  Grande  in  pursuit.  The  consideration  that  all 
these  Indians  are  subject  to  the  United  States  has  availed 
nothing  for  the  prevention  of  such  outrages,  and  none  of  the 
commanders  of  American  forces  on  the  frontier  have  ever  re- 
membered that  they  had  any  duties  to  perform  in  behalf  of 
Mexico. 

In  .other  places  the  entire  absence  of  garrisons  has  facili- 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


433 


tated  the  incursions  of  the  Indians.  In  1858  there  was  not  a 
single  soldier  along  a line  of  300  miles,  from  Ringgold  Bar- 
racks to  Eagle  Pass.  Along  another  line  of  nearly  1000  miles, 
from  Eagle  Pass  to  Fort  Davis,  the  military  posts  were  so  weak 
that  the  Indians  sometimes  attacked  and  destroyed  them. 
Frequently  the  garrisons  had  no  other  occupation  than  to  serve 
as  spectators  of  the  depredations  committed  in  Mexico,  whither 
the  Indians  would  set  out  from  their  villages  on  the  Rio  Pecos, 
located  in  the  midst  of  American  forts.  The  commanders  of 
those  forts  failed  to  report  the  facts,  or  when  they  did  their 
reports  were  neglected  by  the  government  at  Washington, 
which  thereby  incurred  a responsibility  equal  to  that  arising 
from  the  devastation  of  Sonora. 

The  Texan  newspapers,  which  certainly  do  not  favor  the 
Mexican  frontier,  admit  the  reality  of  the  devastations  in 
Sonora  and  along  the  Rio  Grande.  The  Daily  Herald^  of  San 
Antonio,  under  date  of  the  23d  of  July  last  (1873),  after  enu- 
merating the  suffering  of  Texas,  and  condemning  the  criminal 
protection  given  to  marauding  Indians  on  the  Fort  Sill  reser- 
vations, said  that — 

“ Tliis  neglect  does  not  surprise  us,  for  the  same  thing  oc- 
curs on  the  Chiricahua  reservation  in  Arizona,  where  the  govern- 
ment made  peace  with  the  chief  Cochise,  leaving  him  free  to 
wreak  his  hate  upon  the  Mexicans  by  devoting  all  his  attention 
to  plundering  them  ; for  which  end  he  was  withdrawn  from 
military  control,  exempted  from  roll-calls,  and  handed  over  to 
an  agent  who  had  no  instructions  to  watch  him,  nor  to  prevent 
those  forays  into  Mexico  which  commenced  immediately  after 
the  Howard  treaty.  There  can  be  no  doubt  of  the  fact,  for  the 
marauding  Indians  were  tracked  to  the  reservations  where  all 
the  booty  was  found,  and  where  the  agent  admitted  the  depre- 
dations in  Mexico. 

“ Indeed,  it  is  circumstantially  in  evidence  that  free  forage  on 
Mexican  territory  was  relied  upon  as  the  chief  inducement  for 
Cochise  to  keep  the  peace  on  our  side  of  the  line.  The  news- 
papers raised  tlieir  voices  for  very  shame,  but  the  interior  de- 
partment made  no  eliange  and  took  no  steps  to  prevent  these 
outrages,  and  was.  satisfied  with  Gen.  Howard’s  assurance  that 
Cochise  was  innocent.” 

The  complaints  of  Gen.  Pesqueira  to  Gen.,  Cook,  on,  tlm 
?8 


434 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


same  subject,  bad  no  other  result  than  an  offer  to  consult  his 
superiors  with  a -view  to  obtain  permission  to  subject  the  In- 
dians to  roll-call,  but  this  permission  was  refused,  according  to 
the  explanations  which  Col.  Velasco  furnished  the  government 
of  Sonora. 

Texas  being,  according  to  the  writers  of  that  State,  in  the 
same  position  as  Sonora,  whose  sufferings  they  related  as  paral- 
lel to  their  own,  it  is  easily  seen  that  the  depredations  in  Mexico 
were  notorious,  as  well  as  the  obligation  on  the  part  of  govern- 
ment to  suppress  them. 

“ As  the  government  had  refused  to  restrain  the  Indians 
on  the  Sonora  line,  so  on  the  same  principle  it  declined  to  im- 
pede their  robberies  in  Texas  where  a frontier  of  more  than  a 
thousand  miles  was  unprotected.” 

About  this  time  the  case  of  two  Kiowa  chiefs,  Satanta  and 
Big-Tree,  in  whose  behalf  the  general  government  intervened, 
when  they  had  been  arrested,  tried  and  condemned  by  the 
Texan  courts,  gave  rise  to  an  acrimonious  debate,  in  which  the 
Indian  policy  of  that  government  was  bitterly  denounced. 
Making  due  allowance  for  exaggeration  on  the  part  of  political 
opponents,  this  case  still  throws  great  light  upon  the  principal 
question  at  issue. 

The  depredations  of  the  Kiowas  in  Texas  were  clearly 
proved,  but  although  the  right  of  the  Texan  courts  to  punish 
criminals  is  recognized,  the  policy  of  the  Federal  government, 
represented  by  Secretary  Delano,  required  the  liberation  of  the 
Kiowa  chiefs.  The  ultimate  decision  is  still  (1873)  to  be 
reached  by  a conference  with  the  Governor  of  Texas. 

This  question  has  been  discussed  from  the  opposite  stand- 
points of  the  extermination  of  the  Indians  and  their  pacifica- 
tion bv  humanitarian  methods.  In  this  connection  the  former 
%/ 

and  present  conduct  of  the  Federal  government  has  been  passed 
in  review.  The  charge  has  been  distinctly  made  that  the 
government  itself  or  its  subordinates  has  supplied  arms  to  the 
Indians  from  the  Mississippi  to  the  Pacific  coast,  as  shown  by 
the  Modocs  who,  in  fighting  the  American  troops,  used  rifles 
of  re(;ent  invention. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


435 


‘•The  people  and  government  of  the  United  States,”  it  was 
alleged,  “ are  the  real  causes  of  these  crimes,  they  having  first 
mm-dered  and  robbed  the  Indians.” 

A delegation  of  Comanches,  Kiowas  and  Apaches  went  to 
Washington  to  solicit  the  liberty  of  the  imprisoned  chiefs. 
Tlie  legislature  of  Texas  declared  against  such  a step,  and  al- 
though the  World  stated  that  the  protest  was  the  reflection  of 
the  sentiments  of  the  Texan  frontier  and  of  almost  all  the 
Texan  papers,  it  nevertheless  maintained  the  policy  of  the 
government. 

The  Texan  papers  have  ransacked  the  published  reports  of 
the  board  of  Indian  commissioners  for  several  years,  and  have 
thus  brought  to  light  important  documents  in  which  that 
board  has  expressed  its  weighty  opinion  against  the  scandalous 
means  by  wliich  Indian  agents  formerly  acquired  splendid  for- 
tunes. While  it  is  not  denied  that  the  same  abuses  still  exist 
on  a smaller  scale,  an  official  proof  is  thus  afforded  that  the 
Federal  government  has  always  been  and  still  is  responsible 
for  the  misdeeds  of  the  Indians.  It  is  admitted  that  all  the 
past  Indian  troubles  have  been  caused  by  a failure  to  observe 
the  treaties. 

In  rejoinder  to  these  opinions  of  the  board  about  the  sanc- 
tity of  treaties,  and  the  value  of  peaecful  measures  in  Indian 
questions,  the  same  papers  brought  forward  again  the  horrible 
butchery  of  Lipans  and  Kickapoos  committed  by  McKenzie, 
and  observed  that  the  AVar  Department  had  approved  his  con- 
duct, thus  presenting  in  a strong  light  the  inconsistency  of  the 
government. 

It  has  always  been  the  fate  of  all  important  and  salutary 
plans  of  governments  to  encounter  thousands  of  obstacles  even 
in  tlieir  purely  economical  details.  This  is  what  is  now  taking 
place  in  the  United  States,  in  regard  to  the  Indian  question. 
Nevertheless,  the  responsibilities  contracted  under  the  former 
vicious  system  cannot  be  repudiated  by  the  change,  any  more 
than  those  arising  from  the  misconduct  of  its  present  agents. 

To  extirpate  the  inveterate  abuses  involved  in  the  admin- 
istration of  Indian  affairs  is  a herculean  task,  in  which  the 
government  at  Washington  is  likely  to  fail,  iu  case  its  humane 


436 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


views  be  not  seconded  by  tlie  agents,  who  should  therefore  be 
chosen  with  extreme  care.  Otherwise  the  prophecy  of  Tocquc- 
ville  will  be  fulfilled  : “ the  Indians  are  condemned  to  perish, 
and  must  resign  themselves  to  their  fate.” 

It  is  a painful  duty  to  remark  that  in  practice  the  humani- 
tarian policy  of  the  American  government  has  been  far  from 
an  unmixed  benefit  to  the  Mexican  frontier,  and  in  notable  iu- 
stances  has  been  exercised  at  our  expense.  Sufficient  proofs  of 
this  fact  will  be  found  in  the  conduct  of  General  Howard  and 
Agent  Jeffards  in  Arizona ; in  the  conduct  of  the  commanders 
of  Forts  Quitman,  Davis,  Stockton,  Clark,  and  Duncan,  who 
have  allowed  parties  of  Comanches  and  Mescaleros  to  pass  by 
them  unmolested,  when  they  were  known  to  be  on  their  way 
to  ravage  the  Mexican  frontier ; and  in  the  recent  refusal  of 
the  commander  of  Fort  Clark  to  deliver  to  their  Mexican  own- 
ers, who  personally  claimed  them,  a number  of  horses  taken 
by  his  troops  from  a party  of  Indians  on  their  return  from  a 
foray  into  Mexico,  a procedure  in  direct  contrast  with  that  of 
the  Mexican  authorities  a few  months  before,  as  already  re- 
lated. 

The  facts  stated  and  proved  by  this  Commission  respecting 
the  horrible  depredations  of  the  savages,  conclusively  show 
that  Mexico  deceived  herself  when  she  expected  the  United 
States  to  fulfill  their  natural  and  treaty  obligations.  Mexico 
has  suffered  the  horrors  of  tlie  most  atrocious  warfare  that  any 
nation  can  register  in  its  annals,  and  all  iu  consequence  of  her 
strict  observance  of  a solemn  treaty.  Confiding  iu  the  power 
of  the  neighboring  nation  to  effect  the  pacification  of  the  In- 
dians, she  regulated  her  conduct  in  conformity  with  that  view. 
Hence  the  establishment  of  military  colonies  to  hold  in  check 
the  Indians  who  might  be  driven  by  hostilities  in  the  United 
States  to  take  refuge  in  Mexico  ; hence  the  strict  orders  issued 
to  make  no  terms  with  nomadic  tribes,  and  hence  the  zeal  with 
which  the  frontier  towns  were  garrisoned  and  supplied  with 
arms,  for  the  last  brief  struggle  which,  it  was  anticipated, 
would  he  made  by  the  Indians. 

The  coui-se  of  events  was  far  different — Mexico  became  the 
protector  of  the  American  frontier.  The  inhabitants  of  Texas 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


437 


came  to  Reynosa  and  Matamoros  in  1849  and  1853  for  pro- 
tection against  the  hordes  of  savages  who  were  encamped 
around  their  towns,  and  their  authorities  called  for  help  from 
those  of  Mexico.  That  help  was  granted,  and  the  Comanche 
encampments  were  put  to  flight  by  the  efiorts  of  the  Mexicans, 
wlio  availed  themselves,  in  their  own  interest,  of  a permission 
to  fight  the  common  enemy  upon  American  soil.  The  inhab- 
itants of  Guerrero  took  the  first  step  in  this  direction,  and  they 
were  several  times  imitated  by  the  settlers  in  the  district  of 
Rio  Grande  in  Coahuila.  As  a recompense  for  these  good 
offices,  the  Mexicans  living  in  Texas  have  been  denied  the 
privilege  of  assembling  together  in  a number  greater  than  ten 
individuals  ! 

While  Texas  was  thus  the  rallying-point  of  all  the  Indians 
who  desolated  Mexico,  and  while  those  tribes  were  almost  per- 
manently encamped  in  that  territory  as  a base  of  operations 
against  Mexico,  neither  the  people  nor  the  army  of  the  United 
States  prevented  their  actions.  That  people  and  that  army 
were  witnesses  of  the  depredations,  and  took  no  action,  unless 
to  increase  the  horrors  of  the  situation  by  threatening  the 
Mexican  frontier  with  invasions  on  their  own  part,  and  even 
effecting  them  on  the  most  futile  pretexts. 

For  example,  at  a time  when  Uuevo  Laredo  was  besieged 
by  the  Comanches,  it  suffered  an  invasion  headed  by  one  Bena- 
vides, under  pretext  that  the  Lipans,  then  at  peace  with  Mex- 
ico, and  under  strict  vigilance,  had  approached  the  line  of  the 
Rio  Grande.  It  had  been  thought  right  and  proper  for  Texas  to 
make  peace  with  them  in  1854,  without  any  conditions  as  re- 
garding hostilities  in  Mexico ; but  is  was  not  to  be  tolerated 
that  Mexico  should  make  any  treaty  witli  those  Indians,  even 
when,  as  in  this  case,  it  was  stipulated  that  they  should  refrain 
from  incursions  into  Texas. 

We  have  already  given  the  history  of  the  Lipans — that 
wretched  and  miserable  tribe  whose  ruin  was  brought  about 
by  the  Texans,  and  whose  warriors  do  not  now  exceed  thirty. 
It  seems  incredible,  that  living  as  they  did,  not  in  Mexico  but 
in  Texas,  their  name  should  have  been  used  as  a reproach  to 
the  Mexicans,  when  Texas  has  thousands  upon  thousands  of 


438 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


other  savages  wlio  roam  in  every  direction,  and  are  the  real 
perpetrators  of  all  the  depredations  she  lias  suffered.  Never- 
theless, certain  special  agents  of  the  American  Government 
have  preferred  charges  against  Mexico  for  harboring  the  Li- 
pans,  and  this  is  one  of  the  principal  chapters  of  the  grievances 
which  have  lately  been  proclaimed  to  the  world ! 

At  the  present  time,  fortunately,  the  outrages  formerly 
committed  upon  Mexican  towns,  on  account  of  fugitive  slaves, 
no  longer  occur.  In  the  same  degree  that  this  conduct  was 
dishonorable  and  criminal  on  the  jiart  of  the  persecutors  of 
those  unhappy  refugees,  the  course  of  the  Mexican  authorities 
and  people,  in  defending  them  on  all  occasions,  at  the  hazard 
of  life  and  property,  and  at  tlie  risk  of  invasion  by  filibusters, 
will  ever  be  a title  of  honor  to  our  country.  An  indelible 
stain  will  rest  upon  that  army  which  then  gave  its  support,  at 
Piedras  Negras,  to  the  bandits  who  trafficked  in  human  blood. 


CONCLUSION. 

The  sketch  which  this  Commission  has  endeavored  to  draw 
of  the  calamities  suffered  by  the  Mexican  frontier,  does  not  do 
justice  to  the  reality,  for  a complete  picture  would  require 
more  time  and  a more  exhaustive  consultation  of  documents. 
The  present  report  gives,  however,  an  idea  of  the  immense  ex- 
tent of  the  evil,  of  its  varied  forms,  and  of  the  continual  losses 
to  which  it  hits  subjected  the  frontier,  decimating  its  inhab- 
itants, preventing  every  useful  enterprise,  converting  it  into  a 
military  encampment,  and  forcing  it  to  lead  a nomadic  life, 
like  that  of  the  savages  in  whose  pursuit  our  iuhabilants  have 
spent  their  days  in  toil,  dangers  and  misery. 

Having  summed  up  the  incalculable  losses  occasioned  by 
Indian  incursions,  this  Commission  believes,  after  a careful 
study  of  this  warfare  from  its  beginning,  that  the  evil  had  its 
origin  in  the  wrong  policy  of  the  United  States,  in  their  treat- 
ment of  a question  which  involved  the  future  of  thousands  of 
the  Indian  races,  as  well  as  that  of  several  millions  of  the  resi- 
dents of  Mexico. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


439 


After  a long  period  of  neglect,  the  question  of  the  civiliza- 
tion of  tlie  Indians  lias  now  attracted  the  serious  attention  of 
the  government  of  the  United  States.  This  fact  is  a most  ex- 
plicit recognition  of  the  right  of  Mexico  to  demand  and  ob- 
tain indemnification  for  the  losses  suffered  on  account  of  failure 
to  restrain  the  Indians  from  committing  depredations. 

The  right  to  such  indemnification,  moreover,  is  established 
not  merely  by  the  history  of  the  Indian  tribes,  but  by  the  con- 
duct of  the  government  to  which  they  are-  subject,  independ- 
ently of  all  treaties,  as  a consequence  of  the  duties  which 
the  Government  at  Washington  now  recognizes  and  endeavors 
to  discharge  with  honorable  solicitude,  in  spite  of  all  the  hin- 
drances thrown  in  the  wa}’  by  the  bastard  interests  which  its 
own  negligence  has  created.  All  these  considerations  prove 
the  reality  of  the  grievances  experienced  by  Mexico,  as 
proceeding  from  American  territory,  in  which  the  invasions 
have  been  prepared,  and  whose  citizens  have  been,  with  the 
connivance  of  their  authorities,  the  receivers  of  Mexican  booty. 

On  her  part,  Mexico  has  done  all  that  the  situation  de- 
manded. She  has  facilitated  the  action  of  the  American  Gov- 
ernment in  the  fulfillment  of  its  agreements ; she  has  contrib- 
uted more  than  her  revenue  has  warranted,  towards  the  extir- 
pation of  an  evil  which  was  not  a common  one,  and  for  that 
very  reason  was  not  sup])ressed  by  the  government  responsible 
for  its  existence.  She  has  exhausted  the  measures  of  prudence, 
of  convenience,  of  necessity  and  of  utility,  to  prevent  the  deso- 
lation that  was  being  wrought  upon  a great  part  of  her  ter- 
ritory, and  all  without  result,  as  has  been  seen  from  the  conduct 
of  the  American  Government  in  this  question,  which  has  been 
treated  not  merely  with  disdain,  but  perhaps  with  intentions 
openly  contrary  to  the  demands  of  justice. 

Every  where  and  at  all  times  the  violation  in  the  first  in- 
stance of  the  Treaty  of  Guadalupe,  and  secondly,  of  the  prin- 
ciples of  natural  justice  between  nations,  has  been  apparent. 
When  it  is  recognized  that  the  observance  of  those  principles  is 
essential  to  preserve  the  life  and  tranquility  of  nations,  it  can- 
not be  believed  that  the  United  States  will  sanction  so  many 


4:40 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


injuries  by  refusing  to  make  proper  reparation  for  what  it  failed 
to  prevent  and  to  punisli. 

In  no  case  of  international  controversy  have  the  facts  been 
more  evident  than  in  this  matter  of  Indian  depredations.  The 
honor  and  the  reputation  of  the  American  people,  as  has  been 
recognized  by  just  men  of  that  country,  are  involved  in  the  in- 
demnification of  the  Mexican  sufferers,  and  this  report  contains 
but  a few  of  the  many  reasons  which  concur  in  establishing 
the  justice  of  such  a demand.  It  should  also  be  recognized  by 
the  United  States,  as  being  interested  equally  with  Mexico  in 
the  observance  of  that  natural  law  which  enjoins  nations  to 
lend  each  other  mutual  assistance  in  their  efibrts  for  genuine 
progress. 

The  equality  of  rights  between  Mexico  and  the  United 
States  as  sovereign  nations,  aside  from  all  considerations  of 
Relative  wealth  and  power,  which  do  not  aficct  intrinsic  justice, 
is  another  powerful  argument  in  favor  of  the  claims  of  Mexico. 
The  United  States  in  presenting  claims  of  its  citizens  for 
grievances  said  to  have  been  suffered  from  Indians  living  in 
Mexico,  will  place  itself  upon  a ground  which  necessarily  pre- 
supposes its  own  obligation  to  satisfy  the  just  claims  of  the 
same  nature  presented  by  Mexican  citizens,  for  which  the  evi- 
dence both  of  fact  and  of  responsibility  has  been  shown  to  be  so 
complete  and  so  convincing.  The  undeniable  obligation  on  the 
part  of  Mexico  to  prevent,  as  far  as  possible,  all  aggression  by 
Indians  living  within  her  borders,  upon  the  Texan  frontier,  lias 
been  faithfully  discharged.  When  the  small  tribe  of  Lipans 
and  the  semi-civilized  tribe  of  Kickapoos  have  resided  in  Mex- 
ico, it  has  been  upon  the  express  condition  of  refraining  from 
all  outrages  upon  the  neighboring  nation.  Extreme  vigilance 
has  been  used  in  enforcing  good  behavior,  and  every  dereliction 
has  been  followed  by  prompt  and  severe  chastisement. 

In  the  necessity  of  taking  action  for  the  future  security  of 
her  territory  from  similar  incursions  from  the  United  States, 
Mexico  has  to  contemplate  two  objects,  viz : the  prevention 
and  the  punishment  of  such  outrages.  The  former  object  can 
only  be  attained  by  agreement  with  the  United  States,  which 
is  under  an  evident  obligation  to  prevent  all  such  incursions. 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


441 


The  latter  object  demands  from  Mexico  the  cantonment  of 
forces  sufficient  to  repel  all  aggressors  of  whatever  class.  It  is 
believed  that  the  presence  of  disciplined  troops  along  the  line, 
will  avail  not  only  as  against  the  Indians,  but  to  prevent  in- 
vasions by  parties  of  bandits,  such  as  those  who  in  September 
last  (1873)  attacked  La  Resurrection,  adding  to  material  out- 
rage, insult  and  calumny. 

A convenient  distribution  of  troops,  and  their  being  com- 
manded by  honorable  and  educated  officers,  would  go  farther 
than  a mere  display  of  numbers,  towards  effecting  a change  of 
opinion  among  the  Texans  of  the  frontier,  wlio  might  perhaps 
be  thus  brought  to  abandon  their  traditional  system  of  invasion 
and  indiscriminate  hostility,  and  cultivate  those  fraternal  rela- 
tions which  the  two  peoples  so  urgently  need. 

It  will  much  contribute  to  this  result,  if  the  policy  an- 
nounced by  the  Supreme  Government  of  Mexico,  in  its  circu- 
lar of  the  10th  of  September,  1850,  shall  be  rigorously  pur- 
sued, by  refusing  all  terms  of  peace  to  the  savage  tribes. 
Even  respecting  the  semi-civilized  tribes,  after  the  difficulties 
which  have  arisen  with  the  Seminoles,  Kickapoos  and  Musco- 
gees,  a similar  policy  should  henceforth  be  adopted. 

It  is  one  of  the  first  duties  of  Mexico,  and  one  which  the 
Commission  cannot  sufficiently  urge,  to  place  herself  in  a con- 
dition to  repel  every  act  of  violence  which  can  be  anticipated 
from  her  numerous  enemies  in  the  United  States,  whether  they 
be  real  Indians,  disguised  white  men,  filibusters  or  simple  ban- 
dits. The  sending  of  sufficient  troops  to  protect  the  national 
territory  from  all  outrages,  will  not  only  afford  security  to  the 
inhabitants,  but  will  stimulate  the  colonization  of  the  vast 
deserts  which  urgently  demand  industrious  settlers  for  the  ma- 
terial welfare  of  the  country,  and  as  a check  to  the  unbounded 
ambition  of  filibusters. 

Four  detachments  of  150  men  eacli,  distributed  between 
San  Vicente  and  Las  Vacas,  would  close  the  doors  through 
which  the  savages  have  penetrated  into  the  three  States  of  Coa- 
huila,  Huevo  Leon  und  Tamaulipas,  and  would  also  protect  the 
greater  part  of  Durango.  Three  encampments  or  military 
colonies  placed  at  Babia,  Zorra  and  Pico  Etereo,  w'ould  com- 
29 


442 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE. 


pletc  the  defense,  and  would  open  to  settlement  a region  rich 
in  mines  and  abundant  in  pastures. 

The  old  and  modern  history  of  Texas,  filled  with  calumnies, 
outrages,  invasions  and  ambition  against  Mexico,  is  a lesson 
which  should  attract  towards  the  frontier  all  the  energj^  of  the 
Mexican  government,  in  order  to  atibrd  its  long-suffering  in- 
lia,bitants  a respite  from  their  continual  struggle  against  open 
and  secret  enemies.  As  the  Commission  has  said  elsewhere 
in  this  report,  it  is  only  the  creation  of  material  interests  su- 
perior to  those  they  could  expect  from  an  increase  of  territory, 
that  can  put  an  end  to  the  restless  spirit  of  the  floating  pop- 
ulation of  Texas,  which,  in  the  absence  of  lawful  resources  to 
employ  the  energy  of  its  will,  is  ever  dreaming  of  revolu 
tionary  enterprises  inconsistent  with  the  maintenance  of  peace 
and  harmony  between  the  two  nations.  To  meet  this  exi- 
gency a prolonged  and  vigorous  effort  is  necessary. 

It  is  not  a fear,  but  the  proved  existence  of  important  facts, 
which  impels  this  Commission  to  insist  again  and  again  upon 
the  ]>rotection  of  the  Eio  Grande  line  by  suitable  forces.  The 
spirit  of  invasion,  still  dominant  in  Texas,  does  not  forget  the 
tactics  which  secured  the  separation  and  loss  of  that  territory. 
This  spirit  lives  and  is  nourished  upon  the  ideas  of  Sam.  Hous- 
ton. It  is  necessary  to  oppose  to  it  not  only  the  barriers  of 
justice,  but  those  of  force,  the  greatest  of  which  would  be  the 
rapid  settlement  and  consequent  prosperity  of  the  Mexican 
frontier.  Xo  law,  no  special  measure  for  that  end  is  requisite  ; 
nothing  but  the  stationing  of  the  most  select  portion  of  our 
army  along  the  frontier.  In  a secondary  degree,  the  vigilance 
of  the  supreme  government  is  required  in  the  formation  of 
laws  and  police  regulations  respecting  the  intercourse  between 
the  settlements  on  the  opposite  banks  of  the  Kio  Grande,  for 
which  measure  the  same  reasons  and  the  same  rights  may  be 
presented  as  for  similar  action  in  our  sea-ports.  All  communi- 
cations, even  in  ])rivate,  with  a foreign  nation,  demand  the  at- 
tention and  vigilance  of  the  federal  authorities. 

The  administration  of  justice  in  the  remote  districts  of  the 
frontier  States,  in  immediate  contact  with  the  United  States,  is 
far  from  satisfactory,  owing  to  the  ignorance  of  its  ofiicers,  or 


NORTHERN  FRONTIER  QUESTION. 


443 


the  listlessness  of  their  a"ents.  This  fact  has  had  no  small  in- 
fluence upon  the  demoralization  and  decline  Of  that  region.  It 
would,  therefore,  he  a public  benefit  if  the  supreme  govern- 
ment, through  the  means  open  to  it,  could  exercise  an  influence 
for  the  better  discharge  of  judicial  functions  which  may  im- 
peril our  relations  with  the  neighboring  republic. 

This  Commission,  in  the  discharge  of  its  duties,  has  been 
careful  to  collect  documents  whose  study  will  tend  to  the  pro- 
motion of  its  important  objects.  It  believes  that  in  so  doing  it 
has  acted  judiciously,  and  contributed  to  realize  the  intentions 
of  the  Congressional  law  of  October  2d,  1872,  to  which  it  owes 
its  existence.  The  examination  of  tliese  qiiestions,  whose  im- 
portance is  greater  than  the  capacities  of  the  members  of  the 
Commission,  has  been  purposely  confined  within  certain  limits, 
so  as  to  leave  to  the  sound  judgment  and  wisdom  of  our  states- 
men, the  task  of  deducing  the  important  consequences  which 
flow  from  the  facts  so  carefully  collected  and  proven. 

In  fine,  in  order  to  crown  the  just,  grand,  necessaiw  and  be- 
fitting work  of  elevating  the  frontier  of  Northern  Mexico  to 
that  degree  of  prosperity  which  the  security  of  the  republic 
demands,  and  to  which  nature  has  destined  it,  the  difficulties 
and  obstacles  are  neither  insurmountable  nor  relatively  great. 
If  care  shall  be  taken  that  the  laws  be  observed  and  executed 
with  all  strictness  ; if  the  security  of  the  frontier  shall  be  dili- 
gently and  vigilantly  maintained ; if  prompt  remedies  shall 
be  applied  to  difficulties  arising  from  a long  period  of  disorder  ; 
the  frontier  will  soon,  very  soon  rise  to  a prosperity  which 
will  be  reflected  from  all  the  other  States  of  the  federation. 
Thus  the  real  power  of  Mexico  will  be  cemented,  as  the  peace 
now  enjoyed  and  the  preparatory  measures  already  taken  hap- 
pily forebode. 

Monterey,  Decennher  7th,  1873. 

IGNACIO  GALINDO. 

ANTONIO  GARCIA  CARRILLO. 
AGUSTIN  SILICEO. 

FRANCISCO  YALDES  GO^iIEZ, 

Secretary. 


F391 .M63 

Reports  of  the  committee 


Princeton 


Thcolooical 


Sem 


